My name is Joe. I'm going to tell you a story. No, not about me, I'm just your "average Joe". But I have a friend who is really something else! His name is Leonard. His friends all call him Leo.
Leo & I worked in the oil fields in south Texas. I'm a roustabout while he is a high rigger. I don't have any special talents, but Leo is an artist. Not a painter or a sculptor, but he can draw anything you want. A flower, a butterfly, animals, fantasy creatures, or just intricate abstract designs. Everyone who saw his drawings told him he should become a tattoo artist, and put his designs on people, instead of just on paper.
Leo thought about it for a long time and finally decided that if he could become a great tattoo artist, he would get to do what he loved, and maybe make good money. It would beat the hell out of working in the oil fields. He started savings his money.
When he had a fair sized stash, he sorted out the minimum amount of stuff he would need to take with him, and put everything else in storage. He didn't want to have trouble on the road so he gave his old Harley a quick once over, after all it only had about 40,000 miles on it.
He packed his saddle bags full, put his clothes, mostly jeans & t-shirts, in an old duffle bag, strapped it to the back of his Road King and took off.
Hell, it was less than 1500 miles to Miami. Being the iron-butt rider that he was, it would take less than two days to get there. On Saturday morning he headed north for a couple of hours to get on I-10 headed east. He could follow it all the way to Florida and turn south on I-75 which would drop him down to Miami. If he was going to learn how to tattoo, he wanted to learn from the best.
Leo arrived in Miami Sunday afternoon. He'd had good weather all the way and his trusty ride had just kept on motoring. He got a motel room for the night, and figured he would start looking for someone to teach him the art of tattoo and find a place to stay on Monday.
Monday morning Leo was up early to get started. He found a nice little studio apartment on Biscayne Blvd, about half way between Miami & North Miami. Biscayne Blvd is also known as Highway 1.
The apartment was fully furnished, complete with linens & dishes.
He emptied his saddle bags and carried the duffle bag into his little haven. He went to the store and bought the bare basics of what he would need to set up house-keeping and a few groceries. Leo was a pretty good cook.
Next morning he dressed like he always did, jeans and a black t-shirt, his vest, boots and ball cap. He checked the yellow pages and tore out the couple of pages that listed tattoo parlors. He got on his Harley and headed for the nearest one. He had to check out several before he found one where the owner was a master tattooist with years of experience, and the owner liked Leo's drawings that he had brought with him. Just a small portfolio, but the owner was impressed with Leo's talent. They struck a deal. The owner would teach Leo the art of tattoo in exchange for a quantity of Leo's original designs.
Leo was a good student and a fast learner. He had the natural talent and just needed to learn the technique. It wasn't long until Leo was turning out excellent work, making for very happy clients. The owner of the shop was happy with their arrangement. And now that Leo was actually doing some work, he was also getting paid. Sure beat the hell out of working in the oilfields of south Texas!
One Friday, while Leo was working at the shop, and the owner had gone to lunch, a lady walked into the shop. This was not just any lady. This was one gorgeous woman. Leo greeted her, "Hi, I'm Leo. May I help you?" Leo was awed by her beauty.
She had flawless alabaster skin. Her hair was shiny black, which she wore in tight curls to frame her face. She had an impish smile which made Leo wonder what she was thinking. Her lips were full and she was wearing pale pink lip gloss. She reminded him of a porcelain doll. He guessed that her breasts were a full D-cup, but still stood out like marvelous twin mounds. They were capped by nipples which jutted out about half an inch, making little peaks on her blouse. She was obviously not wearing a bra. Her ass was the classic apple shape below a tiny waist. She wore a skirt that was several inches above her knees. All supported on long, curvy legs and dainty feet.
She wanted a tattoo. She knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted a medium sized butterfly, to tell the world that she was free! She wanted it centered on her cleavage, so that she could wear low cut tops, and it would show. Leo explained the process, and what it would cost. She didn't even hesitate, and asked, "Can we do it right now?"
Leo didn't have any appointments for the afternoon so he replied, "Of course I can." He probably would have cancelled any appointments he might have had, to get to work on this gorgeous woman.
"I just need to know that you are sure, since a tattoo is permanent." She was sure. He led her into his cubicle and set everything up. She unbuttoned the top three buttons on her blouse and told him, "Right here!". As she placed her hand between her breasts. Leo was ready.
No artist could ask for a more ideal canvas.
They talked as Leo worked. It would take most of the afternoon, because she picked out a butterfly with lots of detail from the ones Leo offered to her. Her name was India. She had just recently gotten out of an abusive relationship with a man who was older than she was. She had finally had enough, packed her things, got in her pick-up truck and moved out. Actually she had moved about 500 miles, from Tallahassee. She did not want that bad man to find her!
Leo was totally enthralled by India's beauty. He couldn't imagine how any one could abuse her. He knew it was against the owner's policy, but when he was finished, he asked her if she would honor him with her presence at dinner. He knew of a quiet little place not far from there, and the food was excellent. She thought about it for just a few seconds, and then said, "I'd love to."
Leo's boss had called the shop while he was at lunch, and told Leo that since they didn't have anything scheduled for that afternoon that he was going to take the afternoon off and for Leo to lock up at closing time. Leo hung up the closed sign and locked the door. They walked to the little restaurant as it wasn't that far.
They hit it off marvelously at dinner. Leo being the perfect gentleman.
They talked about where they were from and where they someday wanted to be. They had a lot in common. Dinner was followed by a couple of drinks and more conversation.
