When I was a teen
On my sweet 16th
6 girls got together
Went to the mall

We stopped at Claire's
Browsing for an hour
As teens did back in the day
No mall trip was complete
Without a stop at that store

We chilled in the pit
And I opened my presents
One girl got me a
Him Book

It was for all the ex boyfriends
I had or would have
Bad dates that never worked out
Something to chronicle all of them

But it was the quote on the back
That got my attention
Went something like this:

The dude was rude
The guy was shy
Rate your date
Before it's too late
You may forget
The best parts yet
So write it fast
And it becomes your past

Recently, I finally
Threw it away
The cover was gross
Worn with crap on it

But its pages
Though not completely
Were filled
With bad dates
Ex's of all sorts

I'm 33 now
Not yet married
Had dates that haven't
Worked out

And though I don't need
My Him Book anymore
I will always remember the
Day I got it

Thinking
"How will someone like me
Ever even have a solid
Relationship let alone an ex one?"

I was 16
Now I'm 33
A lot has changed
Kids need to have hope
Even about having ex's

And a
Him Book
To scribble in