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So this was it.  He was finally going to get the tattoo that he had argued with his mother, father, girlfriend and sister about.  It wasn’t a big deal, and they’d forget about it.  They can’t stay mad forever, right?  Right.  Granted, maybe he didn’t seem the type for a tattoo.  About thirty years old with a nice grasp on an office job.  He looked like he led the life he did.  He could stand to lose a few pounds.  He wasn’t fat, per se, but sturdily built.  He wore wire rimmed glasses that simply framed his blue eyes (which nicely complimented his blonde hair).  His wardrobe consisted of jeans and slacks, with button up shirts.  That was it.  His girlfriend was convinced he was going through a midlife crisis or something very close to that.  Maybe he was, but he might as well have fun with it.  He walked into the tattoo parlor with a glimmer in his eye.  The bell on top of the door rammed against the door as it opened, making as much noise as possible from something that small.  Designs covered the walls; panthers, bears, women, cartoon characters, tribal patterns, flowers, Chinese characters, old English letters and other such things made up the bulk, with the occasional My Little Pony.
Jared looked around the parlor, not really sure what to do.  Should he walk up to the counter and say “Yes, tattoo for one please, non-smoking if you have any available.” Or should he just stand there and wait to be noticed?  He sat there for a second or two, contemplating what would make him look like he knew what he was doing, and then a heavyset man came from a back room.  He was dressed in cut-off jean shorts and a tee-shirt with a religious parody of another company.  You know, like “Got Jesus?” or something along those lines.  He had a bit of a beard, but nothing too drastic.  His head was shaved and his own arms were covered with tattoos.  Bet you didn’t see that one coming.
“Hi, my name is Terry, Can I help you?” the big guy asked, though he knew full well what the answer would be.  It was just one of those hospitality things all workers ask, no matter where you go.
“Yeah, I’m looking to get a tattoo.” Jared said, looking around at all of the designs on the walls to occupy himself.  He felt awkward looking the man in the eye.
“Well, do you have an idea for what you want?” The man behind the counter asked.
“Not yet…I hadn’t really known what was available.  Something…different.” Jared said in a wistful way.
Terry couldn’t help it.  He cracked a smile, revealing a silver bottom tooth.
“Well, that’s what everyone wants.”
Jared smiled a bit sheepishly and revised his statement.  “Well, what I mean is that…I think I want something that describes me.”
“Well that’s a start.  Where?”
“I…hadn’t really thought about that either…maybe…my back?”
Terry looked at Jared with a quizzical look.  “Are you sure you should get this tattoo?”
“Yes.” leaped out of Jared’s mouth before Terry had finished.
The big man shrugged, and then walked out from behind the counter to a wall of designs, taking a chunk of red sticky notes with him.  Jared realized he should probably follow him and lagged behind about ten feet.  He looked up at the wall again, deciding which ones he liked, and marveling at others with no intent to get them.
The Chinese characters all had their translation beneath them.  Jared wasn’t really looking at the meanings, just looking for ones that looked the coolest.  He glanced at one, the meaning was the English word “change” but Jared didn’t really care, as we have discussed.  He took a step closer and gazed at it for a minute.  His thoughts were shattered when Terry slammed a sticky note on top of it, narrowly missing Jared’s head.  Jared jerked his head back and looked at Terry.
“I take it you’re interested in that one?” Terry tried to verify.
“Uhm, Yeah, sure.”