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Mona Wants A Tattoo!

Bonus Scene

from GINGERBREAD KISSES

by Minette Lauren

Melvina looked up at the neon sign that blinked, OPEN. The Tat is Good, tattoo parlor by the George Bush Intercontinental Airport is not where she thought her best friend, Mona, was taking her.

“Mona, I thought you said you wanted to go get a makeover, not a tattoo!”

Mona gave her that notorious devilish grin, that she’d been known for since they’d met in the first grade. “Darlin, this is the makeover. I’m going to get my lips tattooed!”

Melvina’s mouth dropped, but words failed to line up and march out. She needed to warn Mona that she was making a big mistake.

Mona put the car in park, turned off the engine and grabbed her pom-pom purse. The colorful balls that covered the round bag were cute, but a little hard to imagine it belonged on her forty-one-year-old arm.

Against her better judgment, Melvina followed Mona to the entrance of the tat parlor. “Let me just get this straight, we are talking about the lips on your face, right?” Melvina braced herself. There was no telling with Mona.

Her best friend didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, I got somebody else who does all the artwork for downstairs.”

Melvina didn’t want to ask what she meant by art but supposed it might be one of the ladies from the Dipsey Doodle Hair and Nail Emporium. They were known for their Brazilian bikini waxes.

A lady with bright white hair that was highlighted with streaks of pink approached the front desk. Her arms and every other part of her was tattooed except for her face. Melvina couldn’t help but stare.

“How can I help you, ladies? Butterfly, flower, heart, or dragonfly?

Mona didn’t hesitate. “I want my lips tattooed.”

The tattooed lady didn’t blink an eye when she said, “Face or lady parts?”

Melvina wanted to ask the woman why she assumed they would want either of the four suggested tats. She didn’t know if she should be offended or relieved that they looked normal. She decided to ignore the question and tried to reason with Mona before she could go through with this crazy idea.

“Mona, you aren’t really going to tattoo your lip-liner on. What will happen as you age?”

The tattooed lady put her elbows on the desk then rested her face in her hands, looking bored. Apparently, she thought this might take a while.

Melvina enlisted the tattoo artist in her defense, calling out to a bald guy in the parlor area, who was busy drawing a tat of a naked lady on a patron’s bicep. “Hey, Mister, what happens to tattooed lip-liner on a woman’s face after ten years?”

His tool continued to buzz for a few minutes and Melvina was worried he was ignoring her, but after a moment he looked up. “Nothin’. Tats last forever, but a woman’s face… that’s another story. I can do it, and you’ll love it—for now. Your friend’s right, Skinny.” Melvina supposed he was addressing Mona, who was indeed thin and angular. “Skin changes over time and eventually you’ll look like you put on your makeup while using your vibrator. I did a lip-liner tat for my mom when I first started this business, twenty years ago. That’s her now.” He pointed to a picture of a woman who indeed looked like she couldn’t color inside the lines.

Mona frowned. “Oh hell, Melvina. You’ve ruined my makeover!” She flung the parlor door open and huffed as she stepped out into the humid night air. Melvina followed her back to the car. “Admit it. I saved your life.”

Mona blew out a sigh of frustration. “Oh, I guess I should thank you, but what are we gonna do for fun now? It’s only eight o’clock!”

Melvina smiled at her oldest friend as they both got in the car, slamming the doors a little too hard.

“There’s always the all-male review in The Woodlands.”

Mona grinned. “I knew you were my best friend for a reason.”