He is cornered and knows it
so he responds as honestly
as he knows how without
turning away his questioner.

“You have a basic choice, “
he says, “most likely,
and that is do you want it
to look like this now,

or do you want it to look
like this in say thirty years.
If you want it looking like
this in thirty years, this

is what I would give you now,
and if all you care about
is now, it will possibly look
like this thirty years out.”

He’d been asked the question
before, given the same
answer and he knew
the odds were good that

he’d never see this person
again. That, sadly was the price
of integrity when you are
a highly skilled tattoo artist.