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KEITH HARRIS

WNYC RADIO ROOKIES

VALENTINE'S DAY 2009 SPECIAL

And now a Valentine's Day story from 18-year-old Radio Rookie Keith Harris. In many ways today's holiday is just as significant (if not more so) for people who are pining for love, as for those who have it. So, in honor of unrequited love, Keith shares his story of an all-consuming, exhilarating, and over-the-top high school crush.

MS. COCO: Yes I know who your crush was on for four years.

NARRATION: Everyone knows!

KEITH: Oh my God, who?

MS. COCO: Joanne Jean Baptiste. (fade under)

NARRATION: Even the teachers.

KEITH: How you know that?

NARRATION: Ms. Coco is my advisor.

KEITH: I told you?

MS. COCO: I don't remember if you ever told me, but I remember your whole demeanor change, and I remember you just staring at her.

KEITH: Like what was I doing when I was staring at her.

MS. COCO: Just smiling just smiling and staring at her.

NARRATION: I love looking over at her in class, everyday, but when she looks back, I twitch my eyes a-way and smile. I remember when I first saw her in Mr. Blunt's science class, there were a lot of pretty girls, but she was the ONE who stood out. She's always laughing with her friends, hair brushed back, and wearing shoes that looked like old school Converses.

KEITH: I'm going to start with this. This is a teddy bear that I have it on my bed.

NARRATION: I buy things for Joanne, like a NY license plate with her name on it.

KEITH: This name plate I think is very special because I sleep with it. Like I put it under my pillow. The reason I put it there is because (fade under)

NARRATION: I never had a dream about her and I want to. But I'm so glad she's not just a dream. I'm happy to I see her everyday in school.

(School sounds, hallway sounds)

NARRATION: I mostly see her in the hallways. Sometimes, I say Hi or give her a hug hello. But I don't really know how she feels about me and I'm afraid to ask her out. To be honest, I'm kinda shy. But, before graduation I want to find a way ask Joanne out.

MS. MANNARD: Oh I had lots of crushes on people

KEITH: Mind if I ask you question?

NARRATION: I stopped to ask teachers and students because I wanted to learn from their experiences.

MS. MANNARD: I'll tell you about a crush when I was in high school. I had it bad.

(MUSIC)

MS. MANNARD: I just couldn't do anything in band except sit and look at him playing the Oboe.

(MUSIC)

MS: MANNARD: I actually somehow got up the nerve to talk to him. And I think I kept pestering him until he talked back.

(MUSIC)

STEVE: I had a crush on her...um...I used to follow her all day (laughs),

(MUSIC under)

SABIEN: I don't know anybody who had a crush on me, but I had a crush on somebody.

MS. DUDDLEY: Well hmph my high school crush I had a baby with him so. My son is 16 years old now. So everything worked out pretty good.

Olsahad: I felt dumb, 'cause she aint like me.

MS. MANNARD: I think you have to find a way to either see if your crush can turn into a relationship or you gotta find something more realistic.

MS. MANNARD: Because if you keep going after something you can't have you're always going to be frustrated.

KEITH: I think I'm frustrated too.

MS. MANNARD: I'm sure you are.

MS. DUDDLEY: Um...stick with it, you never know that four your crush could turn into your wife. So stick with it babe, don't give up on it.

NARRATION: I don't know what it takes for her to be my wife in the future, but at this point I am willing to do anything, even if I have to ask her out. Joanne and I are in one of the offices in school. I'm nervous

KEITH: I am kind of shy

NARRATION: I'm afraid of laughing or looking stupid.

JOANNE: Why are you shy? Like you never talked to me.

NARRATION: So I kept nodding my head up and down so I couldn't look her in the eyes.

KEITH: Were you ever in a high school crush before?

JOANNE: Was I ever in a high school crush?

NARRATION: I wonder if her crush could be me?

JOANNE: Um...I was interested in people once, but I never made the move, so yeah I had a high school crush before.

KEITH: Was there ever a time when you liked me?

JOANNE:Um...was there ever a point I liked you. Well I would say I was interested, meaning that I would like to get to know you more. But not like you because I never knew you that much so like like you as whole person.

KEITH: So if you did know me that much you probably would have liked me.

JOANNE: I think so. Yes.

KEITH: To go out or just friends?

JOANNE: Well I wouldn't know that because it never happened so.

KEITH: So there is a possibility.

JOANNE: Yes.

KEITH: (laughs)

JOANNE: What's so funny?

KEITH: It's funny, (laughs)

NARRATION: Knowing is funny, I'm just really happy. I think I might ask her out. If I get to be with her, I'll cherish and respect her. We'll spend MORE time together, like go to the movies or to the beach in the summer, and maybe she'll meet my parents and I'll meet hers and we'll become a little bit more serious. But if I don't get to be with her...I'll still do it all over again.

FOR WNYC I'M ROOKIE REPORTER KEITH HARRIS. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.