Free Beetle Juice by Piers Anthony Page B

you?”
    â€œNo. They know I will destroy their virginity, changing them forever, and are wary. Whereas experienced women have less sexual reticence and are attracted to my animal magnetism. So I am forever pursuing the only women who don’t want me, while being pursued by the ones I can’t love. This is quite apart from merit; I know there are many worthy women who could make me happy, if only I didn’t have this thing about virginity. It’s not logical, it’s magical, a geis, a foolish obligation of honor without much honor in it.”
    â€œThat is your tragedy.”
    â€œIt is what really motivated me to take the trail. The hope that somewhere I can find that oxymoron, a perpetually virginal sexual partner. A woman I can love, marry, and make a family with. I fear it’s impossible, but that’s my dream.”
    â€œWe will help you find her.”
    â€œA pregnant virgin is a contradiction in terms. Her body has to know she has had sexual experience, and her mind and emotion will know it too.”
    â€œAre there levels of virginity? I mean, you have not had sex with me, so aren’t I a virgin to you in that respect?”
    Wetzel hadn’t considered that before. “I suppose there are. My first experience with a woman is more interesting than my second, so there may be some magic there, as it were. You are indeed more appealing to me than you would be after sex.” He thought of Weava, a significant exception, but preferred not to go into that.
    â€œIs it your mind or hers that counts most?”
    â€œHers. I read the virginity in her mind, or the relative novelty if she is not a virgin, and react to that.”
    â€œSo we can be better friends if we do not have sex.”
    â€œYes, actually.” Then he found himself telling her about Weava after all, because he knew from her mind that she would understand and sympathize, and he needed that.
    She did. “I like that woman,” Veee said. “You should have married her.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t let me. She wanted what was best for me, and felt unworthy.”
    â€œUnworthy! She is the most worthy person I have heard about.”
    â€œOh, yes,” he said, and the emotion welled up and overcame him. He found himself in Veee’s embrace, being comforted. And realized that if Weava was the most worthy person, Veee might be the next most worthy. Vanja had recognized her as the best possible friend. Vanja was right.
    â€œWeava made her storm shelter,” Veee said. “I must be guided by her.”
    Wetzel was surprised; he had not seen that coming in her thoughts. She had evidently made a sudden decision. “As you wish. I will have to see your secret, but I promise not to reveal it elsewhere. You will have to trust me on this.”
    â€œI do,” she said. That was another thing he liked about her she trusted others because she was trustworthy herself. “I will show you my secret. Read my mind.”
    Her mind flashed back to her early life. He became an invisible observer.
    There was a group of children on the playground. Seeing no boys, Veee took the initiative. “Let’s play hide and guess,” she said.
    The other girls merely looked at her, or beyond her. Realizing that something was amiss, she turned.
    There was a boy standing behind her. She had not seen him approach. She had just committed a serious social blunder, taking the initiative when a boy was present. It was accidental, but appalling. “Oh!” she cried, and ran away in shame.
    As it happened, the boy did not tell on her, and neither did the other girls. But they all knew. She became a de facto pariah, no one’s friend. She could not bear to be with them any more, and busied herself doing other things.
    Not long thereafter her family moved to another village. This put her into a new group that did not know her history. She was able to relate to the children and bury the memory. She