Boyfriends

        I found this essay very relatable. I identified with the slow progression of the author's relationship with her boyfriend. I had similar experiences in middle school. For me, middle school was a time when you had your friend tell your boyfriend that he could hold your hand on the way to the bus stop.  I also identified with how awkward a first kiss can be. My first "serious" boyfriend and I waited a while to kiss and when we did, it was . . .  horrible. You would think he was trying to see how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop. I was throughly disgusted by my first experience and similarly to the author, I much preferred the emotional side of the relationship before we had kissed.  I was able to relate and enjoy this essay because it felt very conversational. I believe that the writer's theme is about relationships and how they evolve as one evolves and grows as a person.