Dr. Mince smiled when I told him about the kiss.

It was the first time I think I'd ever seen him smile.

"How did you feel?" he asked. "Did you let your true heterosexual feelings free or did some of the false feelings of your past creep into your mind? I also want to know if anything else went on."

"What do you mean?"

"Gregory," he said. "I am very happy with your progress. Some of my other patients have gone too far in the past. They've felt that they could engage in pre-marital sex. Even though it is not as big a sin as homosexuality, it is a sin never the less. Now you can tell me. Did you and Donna have intercourse?"

"No," I said. "We did kiss a few more times and held each other as we watched the waves. But the thought of sex didn't enter my mind. I thought about what you had taught me. About how sex was what got me in trouble in the first place."

"Homosexual sex."

"I mean sex in general. You just said that it may not be as bad, but it's still bad. My life has changed so much since I got here. Everything in my life has taken off. I'm back together with my father. My art is taking off. I feel like for the first time in my life, I'm focused on my mind and body."

Dr. Mince sat in his chair taking notes. He put down the pen and looked at me. "The thought of sex with Donna didn't enter your mind?"

"No."

"You didn't want to see her naked? You didn't want to grab her and fondle her?"

"No."

He scribbled down a few more notes. "I see."

The bell went off, ending our session.

I was walking out the door when Dr. Mince stopped me. "I'd like to use hypnosis during our next session. I think there is still something holding you back from being cured. I'd like to see what's keeping you from being a real man."

"And if the hypnosis doesn't help?"

He stood there in silence, staring me down-- lost in thought.