My dad took off when I was thirteen after dumping me at my grandmother's door. I haven’t seen my mom since then either, and good riddance to the both of them. They’re both toxic people with addiction records a mile long. Ophelia was the only constant in my life, and she’s been my rock through it all. She moved to Pink Springs after I went off to the city for my tattoo apprenticeship. She always encouraged my art, and it didn’t matter what form it came in.
“Long day?” my grandmother asks as I walk up the front porch steps.
“Nothing too crazy.” I lean down and kiss her on the cheek before I take a seat beside her on the porch swing. “Did you eat?”
She nods. “Sarah made me a plate before she left. I think she put you one in the microwave as well.”
“I’m going to have to give her a raise.”
“You really should.” My grandmother winks at me, and I smile over at her.
Sarah is a retired lady in town that comes by and helps with Ophelia during the week. She’s recently widowed, and I think it makes her happy that she has someone that needs her. Sarah usually does way more than I ask her to, but I get the feeling it makes her feel good.
“Are you doing a show tonight?”
“Yeah, it starts in about an hour,” I say and check my watch.
“Good luck.” Ophelia taps my knee and then goes back to reading her romance book.
When I get up and go inside, I see the note Sarah left letting me know everything is taken care of and there is indeed food in the microwave for me. I sit down and eat the homemade chicken and dumplings while I go through my messages.
Since moving to Pink Springs I’ve had to get creative about my art shows and how I do my work out here. I run a piercing and tattoo shop downtown, but most of my clients drive out here to see me. I also sell canvas art in a gallery back in the city, and I’ve recently started doing virtual art shows with them. I create my art and have it shipped to the gallery. From there they stage it in their gallery and do the showing online so that more people have a chance to view it. Last time they even did an auction for me, and I was able to sell all of my pieces.
This week I’m featured alongside another artist named Shelly O’Neal. Shelly is an incredible tattoo artist, but her canvas art is fantastic. I’ve seen her work in ink displayed on social media, but her canvas art is so realistic and beautiful. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, and over the past year she’s become my best friend. Through emails.
Shelly’s sense of humor is a lot like my own; she’s dry and straight to the point. She’s always so supportive of my work, and while getting to know each other, we’ve talked about what’s happening in our lives. She’s knowledgeable about art and the tattooing community. It’s nice just to talk about shows we’ve enjoyed and places we’ve traveled to. Once I tried looking up a picture of her, but her online life is private, and I decided to respect that. I’ve run across that in artists before so I decided to give her that space and not pry.
Our emails might be my favorite part of the day, because it’s always the first thing I check when I get home. I don’t know how it happened that the person that knows me the most is someone I’ve never met, but I think we just have this deep understanding of who we are through our shared love of art.
When I see her name pop up in my inbox, I excitedly click it first.
* * *
From: [email protected]
I’m so excited for tonight! Here’s hoping we clear the gallery walls. If so, we’re celebrating!
Cheers in advance,
Shel
* * *
I smile as I read it over again and quickly reply
* * *
From: [email protected]
You’re on! And I think you should come out to Pink Springs to do it. Maybe you can flash those tattoo skills on the one blank piece of skin I’ve got left.
I have no doubts the O’Neal originals are going to go fast!
W-
* * *
She must be at her desk, because the reply is instant.
* * *
From: [email protected]
Don’t tempt me. It’s been too long since I’ve laid down some ink. Plus my water pipe broke this morning and my landlord just told me it won’t be ready for a week. A WEEK. Do you understand how smelly I’m going to be in a week? Maybe my next art installation will just be scratch and sniff.
Am I throwing away my career?
Shel
* * *
From: [email protected]
I’m completely serious. I’ve got a rental house here in town, and it’s been vacant for the past three weeks. Do me a favor and use it to take a shower. It's for the good of your neighbors and the community in general.