tattoo – Never Short On Words

He sat in the chair, transfixed on the clothed canvas before him, hints of what lay beneath poking out at various points. His anticipation growing by the minute, he was afraid he was going to burst before this was all over.

She slowly revealed her canvas, piece by piece. The art danced before his eyes, mesmerizing him as more and more of the picture was exposed. What he originally thought was a collage of disparate pieces began to coalesce together into one masterwork. Soon everything was revealed and it took his breath away.

She smiled a coy smile. “Want to have a closer look?”

He was shaking as he approached. Even mere inches away the art was unbelievably complex. His excitement threatened to explode. What stood before him was amazing in every way.

She giggled. “I knew you liked tattoos, but I didn’t expect this.”

He blushed. “You’re beautiful too.”

Charles watched at the courtyard in his apartment complex. The kids from 201B were once again playing some mashup between soccer and dodgeball. They had brought in a few of the other kids from around the neighborhood and now they played in full teams of six. It made Charles proud that he had developed the game and gave it to the oldest boy, Marcomb. Marcomb would make a great leader one day, unless he died because of some random gang violence. Charles would have to keep watch over the boy and make sure that didn’t happen. It would be a waste to give something to the world and then watch it evaporate in a puddle of spilled blood.

Charles next took out his binoculars and looked up and across the way at apartment 520. At least Charles was pretty sure that was the number. It didn’t really matter. He was already working his ways to make sure that Levi would be leaving sooner rather than later. Levi just didn’t get it. Charles had tried explaining again and again that even though Levi lived on the fifth floor, that he should either close the drapes, or leave his clothes on. Charles hated the sight of Levi’s tattooed naked torso. Charles focused the binoculars. Yep, naked again.

Charles pulled out his cell phone and called Mrs. Gonzalez. Lidia needed to know about this. The phone rang five times and Lidia never picked up. Charles was ready to leave a message, but the lady voice on the message told him that Lidia’s voicemail was full. Of course it was. She never took his messages anymore. She was so caught up with “other things”. What could be more important than making sure Levi pranced around with some clothes on, for goodness sake.

Charles checked one more time through his binoculars. Yep, still naked. That boy needed some shame. For a moment Charles thought about confronting the man on his own, but then remembered that the last time he talked to Levi about it, Levi called the cops. It took all of Charles’ powers to not have his binoculars taken. Good thing the nice officer decided to let him off with a warning. Unfortunately Charles had to report the man for not showing his badge properly when he visited. Charles could understand the officer’s frustration since he was wearing a uniform, but Charles pointed out so many people wear those things to get favors. That meant Charles had to be sure.

The sound of glass breaking brought Charles’ attention back to the courtyard. All the children were scattering like cockroaches in a microwave. Charles pointed his binoculars and saw one of the juveniles had put the ball through Lenny’s window. Charles chuckled. That had to have happened like ten times. He would feel sorry for Lenny, but Lenny was such a loaner. It would do Lenny good to talk to the officer who would respond. Maybe Charles could catch the guy when he visited Lenny and ask him to check in on Levi. Charles looked at Levi’s apartment again. Yep, still naked.

Charles heard the sound of a police siren in the distance. It was good to be the king.