First (and Secret) Crush

Write about your first crush.

Often, before stepping into the shower, I’ll read the daily prompt and let my mind cogitate on ideas before I sit down to write over my morning coffee, However, when I saw this prompt, I immediately flashed back (cue flipping calender sheets) to Veronica.

I don’t remember if she started with us in first grade, but she was certainly with us in Fourth Grade. Veronica Shuman (her last name just appearing in my memory) had long blonde hair down her back. But that’s not what drew me to her. It was that gentle cleft in her chin.

My recall suggests that she also had an amazing singing voice for a ten year old, and was featured in an assembly,or whatever those pageants were called when each grade presented some piece of entertainment. I could be confusing her with Kathy Noga who, with her brother Patrick, joined our class a couple of years later. (I must consult with my cousin Bill, who often remembers details of people more than I.)

Veronica never knew of my affections and so she was the first of many secret crushes. She went off to public school for fifth grade, so that was the end of that. But she was there to jump start my puberty.

If we need to do the Marvel post-credits extra scene, we would see Kathy Noga many years as a hairdresser doing my mother’s hair and talking about dating someone named Fred from our high school class. Interesting side note: Fred had a sister Cathy and he seemed to only ever date women named Cathy. “Fun fact!” as one of my students would say.

Let me know your thoughts on your secret crushes, and please like and follow! (I have a secret crush on my followers, and the number keeps growing, so thank you!)

Postscript: When I was a camp counselor I had a secret crush, and decided to use that as inspiration for a song. One of the campers had a band and he wrote the music for it and Cindy Conaway sang it at a musical revue I put together. Here’s the lyrics: (complete with stage directions!):

I saw him cross the dining hall.
My heart leapt up and did not fall.
I knew he was my one true love
Sent from God in Heaven above.

But then he walked over to her
He sat down, and then, oh, sir,
He put his arm around her back
She leaned in and alas, alack!

(CHORUS) 
	Oh, secret crush, my secret crush,
	Looks like I failed to beat the rush.
	My love did gush then turn to mush
	I lost out on my secret crush.

I sent some letters through campus mail
But my bid for love did fail
I hope that won’t happen again
I’m through forever with all the men.

(CHORUS) 
	Oh, secret crush, my secret crush,
	Looks like I failed to beat the rush.
	My love did gush then turn to mush
	I lost out on my secret Crush.

(A man walks out; she surveys him closely.)

(SPOKEN) Oh, isn’t he nice?

(A woman steps out and they go off together. The vocalist is dejected again.)

(CHORUS) 
	Oh, secret crush, my secret crush,
	Looks like I failed to beat the rush.
	My love did gush then turn to mush
	I lost out, I lost out on my secret Crush.