Ira Glass

She became my most serious crush.

I carried a torch for Karen from grade one to grade six.

Though Karen didn't seem to like me much, one thing I learned about love on TV was that if one was sincere, love can break all boundaries.

I believed that there would come a moment where I'd speak the words I love you to Karen with such tenderness and tears that it would break her heart and she would cry too and confess her love.

I would allow one brave tear to travel down my cheek.

Now, years later, I'm friends with Karen.

Actual friends with both her and her husband, Alan.

I even worked for him for a while.

Karen and I have talked before about our elementary school days, usually steering the conversation towards how mean she was to me.

But I've never really spoken with her about puppy love.

I wanted to know what she remembered, whether she knew I even had a crush on her at all.

Who are your interests?

We'll go year by year.

Keith, definitely.

Club interest.

Barry Seller.

Lauren Wilter?

Notice who she doesn't mention.

Even though it was so far in the past, a crush is still such an awkward thing to talk about.

When I finally did tell her about how I felt about her when we were kids, I sort of mumbled my way through it, backpedaling all over the place.