My First Tattoo

I HAD MADE THE DECISION AND THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK. AS WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT, I REALIZED HOW INSIGNFICANT THE BUILDING WAS IN COMPARISON TO THE PAIN IT HELD INSIDE. AND YET, I HAD DETERMINED MY FATE WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR TO COME HERE. "LIVING ARTS," WHAT A WONDERFUL AND INTRIGUING NAME FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO CAUSE ITS PATRONS INVITED PAIN. WITH A DEEP BREATH AND SOME ENCOURAGING WORDS OF MORAL SUPPORT FROM MY COMPANIONS, I ENTERED THE FRONT DOORS OF THE TATOO PARLOR.

ONCE MY EYES ADJUSTED TO THE DIM LIGHTING, I STOOD FIXED IN THE DOOR WITH AMAZEMENT. I WAS IN A WAITING AREA THAT WAS OBIVOUSLY DESIGNED BY REJECTS FROM INTERIOR DESIGN SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. THE "FURNITURE" APPEARED TO BE REFUGEES FROM THE 1970'S SELECTION OF THE LANDFILL. I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO THINK THAT THESE MUTATED FORMS OF ONCE VITAL LIVING ROOM SUITES WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THEY HAD REMAINED BURIED. ONCE I REGAINED MY SENSES, I SLOWLY SCANNED THE CHEAPLY PANELED ROOM IN HOPES TO LOCATE ANY FAMILIAR ITEM FROM THE PRESENT DECADE. WHAT I FOUND WAS TWO WALLS LINED WITH POSTER SIZED FLIP FOLDERS. I WALKED OVER TO THE FIRST ROW OF FOLDERS AND STARTED TO THUMB THROUGH THEM. MY EYES GLAZED OVER AS WHIRS OF MULTI-COLORED CREATIONS SWEPT PAST THEM IN INDISTINGUISHABLE BLURS. THEN, LIKE A SHOT IN THE DARK, A TINY YELLOW FORM CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. I BLINKED TWICE TO PULL MY EYES INTO FOCUS AND THERE IT WAS-- MY FIRST TATOO. IT WAS THE MOST PERFECT SUNFLOWER I HAD EVER SEEN.

I HURRIED TO THE COUNTER TO TELL MY "SKIN ARTIST" WHAT MY PERMANENT FLESH PAINTING WOULD BE. WHEN HE WENT INTO THE BACK TO FIND MY TREASURED DESIGN, I GLANCED INTO THE PRINT COVERED GLASS CASE I WAS PROPED UP ON. INSIDE THE BLUE TINTED CASE WERE TWO SHELVES LITTERED WITH TINY SILVER HOOPS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. THERE WAS A SIGN IN THE RIGHT CORNER THAT READ "IF YOU HAVE IT WE WILL PIERCE IT". MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS NOT ME!

MY TORTURE PROFESSIONAL RETURNED AND SAID IT WAS TIME TO GET STARTED. I SUDDENLY FELT WEAK, AND THROUGH SOME UNKNOWN FORCE OF WILL, I FOLLOWED HIM INTO HIS STUDIO.

I WAS BLINDED BY THE NEON GLOW OF THE OVERPOWERING FLORESCENT FIXTURES. AFTER BEING IN THE DUSK LIT WAITING ROOM, MY EYES HAD FORGOTTEN REAL LIGHT.