Tattoo Tales

By Seema Punwani

Ashley caught a hint of a snake on his forearm. Chang pulled up his sleeve, proudly showing his python and skull tattoo. Her ‘bad boy’ antenna went up. She was intrigued by this cute sailor with a dangerous tattoo.

Chang remembered his first year in the Navy when an Asian-American boy was an easy target. His eyes nearly prickled with tears when he recalled how the big guys held him down as the bald, burly tattoo artist went about his work.

Now sitting across this pretty girl, Chang flexed his biceps and began confidently reciting the manly version of the tattoo.