Prologue:
At A Glance Author Elle Jack Contact Elle Jack@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Ken Studio Pino Brothers Location Cambridge, MA Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted a tattoo. Literally, I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't want one. You can go as far back as you want, you will find the four year old version of me thinking, "Hmm, tattoo? Sounds good."
I don't know where this came from, but that is what is most comforting. When people think about getting tattoos, they want a lot of thought about the placement, the design, the meaning behind it, because they "don't want to regret it in ten years." For me, I think that I have always known that getting a tattoo isn't about adding on to who I am, it is helping to complete who I am. I don't think I'll ever look back and think that getting any of my tattoos was a mistake, it will just remind me of another time in my life, good or bad. And although my tattoo is small, it is a step closer to feeling like who I will be. Ink in my skin is just as natural to me as a birthmark or freckles.
Now I just turned 18 this year (I know, "she's so young, she rushed into it without thinking"...well shut up.) and I was so excited about finally being able to get a tattoo. But, there was a small problem. While my dad is very liberal when it comes to tattoos (I know, you're thinking, thats why she wanted one, her dad has 7, well he didn't start getting tattoos until he was over 40, so thats not it...really) my mom is really really strict. And unfortunately, my mom gets ruling over this matter because I live with her. When my sister turned 18, she wanted a tattoo, nothing big or noticeable, just a small clover on her hip, but when she talked about it, my mom flipped out and threatened her with all sorts of weird things, like cutting off support for college tuition, among other things. So tattoos became a non-issue with my sister and mom after that.
But I was restless, I needed the change, but was it worth risking my education over? What was a girl to do? Then it dawned on me: What Momma Don't Know Won't Hurt Her. I just needed a small tattoo I could hide to sustain my craving until I could finally be open about it.
What though? Where? At first I thought the inside of my lip was a good idea, so I began to notice how often I exposed it. It turns out, I play with my lips quite often, so no-go for that. Then I remembered something quite random: a few months earlier I, on a dare, dyed my pubic hair hot pink, and I thought it would be for the best to hide that from my mom, and I did quite successfully (I know, you're thinking, hiding private areas is that hard? well i live with my mom and sister, 3 chicks, little privacy respect) so I had my area: Right above my pubes. One problem solved. As for what, that took some time. I finally decided it would be easiest to go with a word (In English, I'm sort of fed up with the whole Hebrew, Japanese, Alien character fad, unless you are Japanese, Hebrew, an Alien or anything like that, leave it be already). How could I sum myself up in one small word. I didn't want my name of initials, I can remember those without them being inked into my skin, thanks.
There is one thing that is a big factor about who I am, that is my ego. Yes, it is big, and No, I do not know how it got to be this way. I was the most insecure 12 year old, but nowadays I brag about how cocky I am. Is is a facade? No. Is it a sudden growth of big breasts? No. I just am. I am confident, then people encourage me into what I am. And that is a cocky person, and I am okay with that. I always tell people while the fastest route to a boy's heart is through his stomach, the fastest way to mine is through my ego.
So of course I thought of Cocky, Confident, Awesome, Bad ass, Amazing. All too long, or strangely inappropriate. Then I finally went down to basics: Ego. Small, simple, perfect. Got it, lets go.
The Event:
So while I had been planning what to get, my friend (M) also was getting a tattoo done, so we were going to go to the same place, same guy, who happened to be a friend of hers. So She took care of that arrangement.
Finally the day was here, we left school, and a couple of M's and my friends ending up coming, so it was Me, M, J, K, L, and P. J was driving, and P and K met up with us later. When we got there we chatted with the tattoo guy, S, for a while. And frankly, I did not like him. He sort of seemed like an asshole and had this weird, I Am God Attitude...yes, someone was too cocky for ME. Actually, he tried to talk me out of getting the tattoo for the first hour I was there, as if I had decided to do it on a whim, and not without some thought. This guy was just pissing me off. L and J had gone outside for a cigarette so I went out there to talk to them, I'm glad i brought them because they were the only two guys there with me, the other chicks there were all moon-eyed over S, and I was the only girl who didn't find his jerk-off behavior charming. I told them I didn't like the guy, they both agreed he wasn't a great guy and they got me into J's car and we left before I let this asshole mark me for life. L took out his phone and called his tattoo artist, Ken. He told him what I wanted, and how we didn't like the other place, and we went right over. I immediately liked Ken, he was friendly, charming and funny. He agreed that S did sound like an asshole and he liked my idea and had a sample for me right away. 5 minutes of talking and paper signing later I was in his chair, ready to go, with L and J by my side.
Then it hit me, 10 seconds before the needle touched my skin, this may hurt. Pain was never a factor when I considered a tattoo, I always figured I would just deal with it, but now with the needle a 2cm away, I got nervous. When it first touched my skin, I tried not to jump, and luckily I didn't. Then I discovered, it didn't hurt, it was just an irritating sensation...Awesome! I could manage this. And about 5 minutes later, the tattoo was done, it was so small it barely took any time to finish. Ken patched me up, and we were done.
We went out to the lobby to pay, and I was so happy I just got my first tattoo, its small, its secret, but its mine. I paid Ken, and my friends covered part of it, and the tip as a birthday gift. Ken gave me his card, and I gave him a piece of gum. We stayed and talked for a while, both J and L have gotten tattoos from him, then we left. I sat in the car with such a big grin, finally, I am starting to feel like me.