“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
