“The more authentic you are, the more authentic you can be with others. It has to come from an intention not to manipulate.”

               photographer Lynn Johnson 

he found her quote in an article called The Power of Voice in National Geographic its editors note explained that photography is not unlike meditation the intimacy captured can come only from a relationship ground in trust

he yearned for authenticity 

                              either one has it or they dont

Boy, if you ain’t the real McCoy.

                                  Mr Clarke said

Mr Clarke confused him the only McCoy he knew was The Real McCoys on television he didnt follow Mr Clarkes meaning what was there about him that reminded Mr Clarke of the television program he wasnt a hickhe didnt call California Californy

he smiled at Mr Clarke

                        Thank you sir thank you very much

No. Mr Clarke took a knee before him he was sixfooteight on his knee he was still taller than him No, Joe, thank you. You’re quite a boy.

Mr Clarke was to undergo a surgery

Mrs Clarke was quite agitated one would have to be blind to miss how the talk worked in her face that she was holding back her tears bright blue eyes made brighter by the sheen of uncried tears cornflower blue eyes girlish eyes

Mr Clarke would chuck her under the chin and call her his little girl

Joe asked her what he could do to helphe wanted badly to help

Mrs Clarke knew Joes dad knew that he was always clamouring through the neighbourhood trying to encourage people to donate blood he was a donor

Joe, if your father would, he could donate blood in Mr. Clarke’s name. The doctor said Mr. Clarke will need a lot of blood. she caught her tears againstymied them  but he saw

That would help a lot, Joe.

at dinner that evening conversation circling the kitchen table what everyones day was like he mentioned Mr Clarkes coming surgery and what Mrs Clarke had asked . . An I want to donate too Dad.

Son, I don’t know if the hospital will allow you to donate, you might be too young.

Somethings wrong with my blood

No. There’s nothing wrong with your blood. There’s professional ethics, and because you’re nine you may not understand what it is you’re doing.

Im donating blood for a very good friend who needs it An your my father an youll tell them to draw my blood because it is okay with you Youll make them listen an youll make them take my blood

                                                                                Dammit

his brothers and sisters went bugeyed because he swore

It may be out of my hands, son.

I wont accept that Dad I want to give my blood to Mr Clarke an I can if you say it is okay with you 

You donate I should be able to donate

he was an adamant little cuss

he and his father donated at the hospital 

they also reached out to the neighbourhood

                                              Joe knew damn well that because he donated he could leverage shame others to donate 

they did

         fiftyfour units were available to Mr Clarke for his surgery

1127,  Thursday,  5  3. 20

1237,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  2  9. 20

Harry Belafonte  John Henry Song  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydTRk1l0ZqI