Chapter 6

           ’Whydon’tmenandwomenreallylikeoneanothernowadays?’ConnieaskedTommyDukes,whowasmoreorlessheroracle.

           ’Oh,buttheydo!Idon’tthinksincethehumanspecieswasinvented,therehaseverbeenatimewhenmenandwomenhavelikedoneanotherasmuchastheydotoday.Genuineliking!Takemyself.Ireallylikewomenbetterthanmen;theyarebraver,onecanbemorefrankwiththem.’

           Connieponderedthis.

           ’Ah,yes,butyouneverhaveanythingtodowiththem!’shesaid.

           ’I?WhatamIdoingbuttalkingperfectlysincerelytoawomanatthismoment?’

           ’Yes,talking...’

           ’AndwhatmorecouldIdoifyouwereaman,thantalkperfectlysincerelytoyou?’

           ’Nothingperhaps.Butawoman...’

           ’Awomanwantsyoutolikeherandtalktoher,andatthesametimeloveheranddesireher;anditseemstomethetwothingsaremutuallyexclusive.’

           ’Buttheyshouldn’tbe!’

           ’Nodoubtwateroughtnottobesowetasitis;itoverdoesitinwetness.Butthereitis!Ilikewomenandtalktothem,andthereforeIdon’tlovethemanddesirethem.Thetwothingsdon’thappenatthesametimeinme.’

           ’Ithinktheyoughtto.’

           ’Allright.Thefactthatthingsoughttobesomethingelsethanwhattheyare,isnotmydepartment.

           Connieconsideredthis.’Itisn’ttrue,’shesaid.’Mencanlovewomenandtalktothem.Idon’tseehowtheycanlovethemwithouttalking,andbeingfriendlyandintimate.Howcanthey?’

           ’Well,’hesaid,’Idon’tknow.What’stheuseofmygeneralizing?Ionlyknowmyowncase.Ilikewomen,butIdon’tdesirethem.