The Tattooed Man
A Story Every Day in 2024 25th Jan 25/366
L.C. Schäfer is challenging herself and others to write a story every day in 2024. You can read about that here:
I rather stupidly decided to join her.
***
Prompt number twenty-five:
Write a story which features a person with tattoos.
***
"Nan! Nan?" Daisy stood over her nan where she lay in the kitchen. She fought back tears.
"Daisy," Aidan said, gently moving his girlfriend of two months to one side while he got on his knees to look at the woman who Daisy loved the most. He was a paramedic after all, although there are better ways to meet your girlfriend's family.
"What's your nan's name, Daze?" he asked softly.
Daisy sniffed and said, "Mabel. But she likes to be called Doris."
Aidan forgave the extra detail - shock had many masks when it appeared - and said, "Which one do you think she would answer to?"
"Doris, I think. Yes, Doris, for sure."
Aidan didn't take his eyes off Doris as he checked for vital signs, and called Doris' name, watching as her eyes flickered, relieved when he could feel a pulse. He reached into his pocket and called an ambulance. Actually, he called his friend, Sally, who was in an ambulance, another paramedic and was told she was on her way. He'd ask questions about the tearing up of red tape later.
That done, he reached for Daisy and held her while she cried.
***
When Doris opened her eyes, she had no idea where she was. She remembered being in her kitchen. Everything after that was a blur of strange voices and lights, and fear.
She took a moment and registered the rhythmic beeps puncturing the silence of her room. Hospital. She wondered what time it was. If she put the TV on, she'd know from the programme.
She turned her head and saw the most heavily tattooed man she had ever seen in her life, sitting in the chair next to her. He was nodding: snoozing, his face obscured by patterns. She felt her heart beat faster and the monitors broadcast this to the world.
He started to stir and stretch, and then, Daisy came in, smiling.
"Nan!" Daisy exclaimed. "Aidan, Nan's awake!"
How did Daisy know this man? His name. Aidan. Familiar. How?
"Aidan saved your life, Nan!"
"Him?" she said, querulously.
"Yep," Daisy said proudly.
And despite her reservations, Doris found herself smiling and wishing she had her teeth in.
***
366 words
What do tattoos mean to you? Do you have tattoos? I don't and neither do I want them but I have nothing against people who have them and don't make assumptions based on their appearance. However, it is easy to make snap judgements on what we see.
This story was inspired, in part, by real life as I had a heavily tattooed workman at my house this week. His boss had told me he had tattoos at his own request so I was not too shocked when I saw them. But still, he was conscious enough of how he looked to forewarn me.
I think tattoos have a different context now, like fashion for skin whereas in the past, they have been more about making a statement of aggression or belief. They still are that for some, to a certain extent but I know teachers with tattoos and they've not had them for that reason at all. Or at least, I don't think they have!
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please do put a comment as I love to hear from my readers!
25/366
About the Creator
Rachel Deeming
Mum, blogger, crafter, reviewer, writer, traveller: I love to write and I am not limited by form. Here, you will find stories, articles, opinion pieces, poems, all of which reflect me: who I am, what I love, what I feel, how I view things.
Keep reading
More stories from Rachel Deeming and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Yuen Long MTR station, on the Tuen Mun/Wu Kai Sha line, at 08:32am
He caught a glimpse of his face reflected in the train station's platform glass barriers. The skin under his eyes were red. His eyes were tired. His hair, again, a mess. But this was Hong Kong, not a single person around him would care to notice. They had all been in his situation before. They had all appreciated being ignored in their own similar moments. He looked up at the arrival board. Just under a minute until his train arrived. Just three stops until Mei Foo, then it was time for another day.
By Hywel Latimyra day ago in Fiction
High Rise, Deep Impact
I have witnessed a death that I relive every time I step into an elevator. Although it no longer affects me as deeply—given that it's been 11 years since the incident—it remains a heart- rending memory from my first and last day as a paramedic. My initial call to the scene involved a man who seemed to have fallen down the elevator shaft of a high-rise building. Alternatively, it might have been that the elevator moved upwards while he was working on it. Different scenarios were being considered when I arrived.
By Penelope Henain2 days ago in Writers
Comments (6)
I love this story, Rachel, especially the part about wishing she had her teeth in! To me tattoos are a matter of self expression. Yes, it's a form of expression that is likely to last a very long time so it's good to consider what it is you're choosing, but still. When our son died at the age of 18.5, one month before high school graduation, several of his classmates & friends got tattoos for his memory. It was a marvelously healing gesture they made.
Same like you, I neither have any tattoos nor do I want them but I'm totally okay if anyone has them. It's their preferences and I respect that. As long as they don't try to push their preferences on me or ridicule me for not having tattoos, I'm 100000000% okay, lol. I'm more of a "You do you and let me do me" kinda person. I loved your story! So glad Nan changed her opinions about Aiden!
This story is a lovely, moving slice of life, Rachel. I loved it. I have known a number of people who use tattoos as a form of remembrance for important events in their lives, or for people they have lost. Our son has a tattoo of his grandfather taking from a photograph from his young adulthood. He has a lot of tattoos, some symbolic, some silly, some quite beautiful. He has two tattoos taken from illustrations his sister drew.
Very heartfelt story and a reminder not to judge people by their looks
The title seemed sinister, which gave the closing revelation strength. Deftly done!
It's funny, tattoos used to be a rebellion, didn't they. These days I see them.as quite conformist, like having the right trainers. Though extreme tattoos like this continue to be remarkable.