FEBRUARY 10, 2023 VALENTINE'S DAY Truth or lies: The unexpected valentine “Good morning! You are currently rocking with K-M Vibes of Manhattan, New York City, the station that plays all your favorite hits. DJ Chopper is the greatest, chopping out hits from old to new …” Jack Harloway, aka DJ Chopper, was a popular, up-and-coming disc jockey. Chopper had won a five-year radio apprenticeship during his last year in college at Musicland University. All during school he never participated in any programs or dances, uncomfortable that everyone teased him about the birthmark on his face. It spanned from the middle of his eyebrows, curving around his eyes and ending at the tip of his nose, shaped like a heart. He did ask Ashley Blake to the prom in high school; however, she shut him down, criticizing the birthmark. He had a crush on his science partner Daphne Pager in college, but he never acted on his feelings. However, he never gave up on his DJ career and was ecstatic about his position at the local radio station. It was his third year working at the station and he was now working the morning shift. This position was very important to all his of co-workers; everyone wanted the morning shift except Chopper. He knew the position FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 came with a lot of public association and appearances. His co-worker “DJ Head” was a confident handsome man, popular with the ladies. DJ Head often teased Chopper on and off the radio about talking to the ladies … “Good day ladies, its DJ Head the smooth operator — ‘smooth with the ladies playing the smooth sounds of love' — unlike Chopper, who’s always chopping up your smoothness with his uncouth sense for love.” It was Chopper’s turn to speak. “Once again Chopper fans, hop on to this beat.” He played LL Cool J’s “I Need Love.” Being a shy man, the evening shift was perfect for Chopper: he could express himself without being seen. Unfortunately for him, Valentine's Day GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7 Illustration by Amy Deng, Michigan in Color was the next holiday on the schedule. The holiday he hated the most. He often remembered that the only valentine he ever received in school read “Be my Valentine, Scarface. Sike!” The station decided to hold an auction at the state fair auditorium to raise money for muscular dystrophy. The winner would receive a free movie and dinner date with their favorite DJ. He was worried that once the winner saw the birthmark on his face they would be appalled. DJ Head was an arrogant man, talking about the auction and how the ladies were going to come out and bid for him. On the other hand, Chopper was totally shy, trying to avoid his questions about who was going to bid on him. He wanted to opt out of the auction; however it was mandatory that each DJ participate. One morning two weeks before the auction, Chopper had had enough abuse from his co-worker and he just told his story on the radio. He expressed his dislike of Valentine's Day due to the see DJ CHOPPER page 11
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