Jon thought that over too and remained skeptical. He shook his head. "I don't think so, Karyn. Look, suppose I were to, oh, give myself a new car, or a haircut, or something. There may be people who would treat me a little better when they first meet me. But that doesn't change what they're like deep inside. Their basic mentality won't change at all. They'd start by treating me nicer but if they're the kind of person who'd try to control me, they'd eventually do that anyway."
"That is true," admitted Karyn. "Changing yourself wouldn't change someone's deep feelings about you. Except..." She giggled.
"Except what?"
"Except changing your sex. Assuming someone isn't bisexual, they can only fall in love with one sex. You can't have someone who hates you now but would like you if you own a car, except superficially. But you can have someone who would treat you with contempt if you're a guy, but who'd fall in love with you and respect you and really mean it if you're a girl."
"But that's not true for everyone. Some people are mean to others and nice to their girlfriend, but some people are mean to their girlfriend too. Or they act nice to their girlfriend but it's just an act, they don't really respect her. And plenty of people have girlfriends who they're not in love with--we're not talking instant marriages here. How do I know that I didn't get one of those instead of someone who would really love me?
"Oh, you don't know. I guess you could ask the stone if you really want. And it also works the other way around. A girl could think you're a wimp if you're a guy, but if you had been a girl you'd have been best friends forever."
"That's not true for everyone either."
"Of course not. But it's possible. Want to try it?"
"Maybe, but...."
