Summary
Sharon tells Katherine that she is worried about Michael getting hurt. Michael teaches Katherine how to ski. Katherine is tremendously sore and tired. She is resistant to get up, so Michael threatens to throw water on her. Michael and Katherine take a walk underneath the stars. Sharon and Ike are smoking grass when they return. Katherine is shocked at Sharon’s smoking. Ike offers Michael a joint, but Katherine doesn’t want to. Upstairs, Michael says he used to smoke. Katherine tells Michael she smoked once, but doesn’t like to feel out of control of herself. Katherine gets ready for bed, thinking about what will happen that night. They kiss, get naked, and Michael introduces Ralph (his penis). Katherine touches Michael. Michael says he was honest when he told Katherine he loved her, and that it’s more than the sex. Katherine tells Michael she loves him. “Forever?” Michael asks, “Forever” Katherine replies.
Katherine’s father comments that time together tears people apart. Katherine is upset. She feels her Dad doesn’t approve of Michael. In actuality, he is afraid of Katherine getting too involved and making lifetime decisions. Katherine says she will not stop seeing Michael; she doesn’t want to be with anyone else. Katherine and her Mom talk about virginity in the car. Her mother doesn’t know if she would still wait until she was engaged to lose her virginity. Her mother tells her that sex is a big deal in a relationship. She tells Katherine to be responsible, but doesn’t stop her.
Erica can tell that Katherine is still a virgin. Katherine wishes to keep things private, and Erica is a little hurt. Erica and Artie played strip poker. Erica feels like Artie’s therapist, but she wants to stay with him. She admits her relationship nothing like what Michael and Katherine have.
Things That Make Me Go “Hmm”
Sharon worries about Michael the same way that Katherine’s dad worries about her. This made me realize that the dynamics in Michael’s family and the dynamics in Katherine’s family are completely different.
When Michael teaches Katherine how to ski it seems like Judy Blume has embedded an extended analogy. I see a comparison between Michael teaching Katherine how to ski and Michael teaching Katherine how to have sex.
I recognized that Michael has an immature side and a mature side to him. The mature side is illustrated when he says that he is proud of Katherine after she learns how to ski. His immature side is shown when he threatens Katherine to get up with a glass of water over her head.
I get a sense of foreshadowing from Judy Blume when Michael says, “but next time you don’t get a second chance” to Katherine. At the time he is talking about throwing water on her, but the words hold a strange, futuristic mood.
Erica tells Katherine about her relationship with Artie. Erica adds, “even though its nothing like you and Michael…not everybody can be so lucky…” This showed me that what Katherine and Michael have together is truly unique.
Assigned Focus-Recurring Themes, Topics, and Symbols
I was unable to find a study guide for this book. I have used Sparknotes before, and I definitely use the theme section and symbol section the most. I really miss having that resource for this book!
A theme in Forever… is teenage sexuality. This is the major subject of the book. The sexual scenes revolve around two teenagers; Michael and Katherine. Katherine and her best friend (Erica) are wrapped up in their “first time”. In addition, Erica’s boyfriend (Artie) is uncertain of his sexuality. Another theme is love; especially the lasting power of love. This gives the title of the book (Forever…). Michael asks if Katherine will love him forever, and she responds “forever”. I think that more of this theme will develop later on in the book. This theme of love includes how love can hurt you. The harm may be physical or emotional. Sharon worries about Michael getting hurt emotionally. Katherine’s father worries about his daughter getting hurt emotionally or her having to face the consequences of teenage sex. Katherine’s grandmother worries about her granddaughter getting pregnant or getting sexually transmitted diseases.
( Image below of 1970's glasses from http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.134495575.jpg. Image of holding hands from http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Technology/images/couple-holding-hands.jpg.)
A symbol in Forever… is Michael’s glasses. Michael repeatedly takes his glasses off; way before kissing Katherine. His glasses symbolize that he is ready for sex way before Katherine is. He may even be rushing her. Another symbol in the book occurs when Michael and Katherine hold hands. Many couples do so, but Judy Blume conveys every single time Katherine and Michael do so to the reader. She also notes when the pair do not hold hands. This symbol goes along the theme of the lasting power of love. If their hands are together, they are together. If their hands are apart, their relationship is as well. In addition, Katherine’s mother tells her, “sex is a commitment…once you’re there you can’t go back to holding hands”. The holding of hands also symbolizes how sex changes the lasting power of love. New Years Day keeps coming up in the story as well. This is when Katherine and Michael met. The day symbolizes a beginning. Another reoccurring event is when Katherine’s cheeks turn red either in the cold or in embarrassment. This symbolizes that Katherine is changing or it may foreshadow that Katherine is going to change.
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