30 March, 2006
My country life has begun in earnest. As always when at Ladyslipper,
I wake up in the morning by six at the latest; the animals want to
eat, and while it is technically Clover’s chore, I could see
that he was deep in sleep as I walked past his room (he had left his
door slightly ajar), so I took care of it myself – he looked
to peaceful to wake him, and we had had a late night of great conversation.
He looked so beautiful in bed, that I was tempted to photograph him,
but I couldn’t do something like that without his permission.
By the time I had finished with the animals he was awake and rambunctious,
and our day of chores began – fixing up the chicken coop (the
chickens were having issues with their perches), setting up a pen
for some new chicks and ducklings to put in the pond, and a leisurely
lunch on the porch. Clover took the photo below, of me working on
the chicken coop today. You can’t see it, but I have a drill
in my hand, as I drill holes in new strips of wood to put up as perches.
We spent the whole day talking while we worked – he told me
about his ex-girlfriend and their star-crossed love (she was 15 when
he had just turned 18, and his parents and hers had threatened to
turn him into the police because of it. They had had to call it off,
and he still seems depressed about it). He told me about the unfortunate
relationship he has with his parents; he isn’t Christian at
all, and has told them so, and they are constantly praying for his
soul. I told him about the tragedies of my own love life of late,
and about being an artist, and what its like in San Francisco, Europe
and New York (he has never left Tennessee), and how interesting it
is to be the son of an elegant and slightly crazy (although only in
the most positive sense) fashion designer, which he contrasted to
his own plain, farmer parents. Clover is very mature for his 19 years.
In the afternoon, when most of our chores were finished, I asked if
he wouldn’t mind sitting for a portrait.
I don’t think I am going to sell it. I am rapidly becoming very
attached to Clover.
His voice is low and deep, with a heavy Southern twang – I often
asked questions to keep the conversation going just so I could hear
him keep talking, with that sexy accent and that beautiful, heavy
voice. I find it very calming. And he is curiously affectionate –
he gives me hugs and leans his head against my shoulder at unexpected
moments, often while talking about a beautiful girl he has a crush
on! If I’m not careful, I’m going to fall in love with
a straight boy, so I’m trying to control myself, but with him
constantly leaning against me and wrestling with me (which we do at
unexpected moments. I’ll be working and he’ll suddenly
pounce on me, and we’ll fall rolling and laughing to the floor.
It was a huge surprise the first time, but now I love these little
unexpected bursts of riotous affection), its going to be hard not
to fall in love.