Some tattoos are worn to symbolize the individual, some to boast, label, or revere individual characteristics, circumstances, or people in the person’s life. And I’d venture (though not speaking with expertise on the subject) some are even used by gangs.

But what is the allure? What do we find so intriguing about a faded anchor, entwined with a thorny rose, inscribed with the name, Lulu? Or any of the elaborate tribal bands that encircle biceps or calves, the Kanji symbols adorning the backs of necks, or the assortment of colorful spreads of flowery designs and mythical creatures spread shoulder-to-shoulder or hip-to-hip that we must inquire their origins from the owners?

In one of my current WIPS, my surfer turned P.I. sports quite a number of distinctive tats himself, because that is who he is, at least according to him. I never stopped to ask him why, though I know how and when, he got them. If I think about it, I’ve never inquired but simply admired quite a number of beautiful tattoos in my life, never questioning any owner . . . until now.

Now . . . well, last week to be more precise, when an eight year old little boy came crying off the school bus, rushed into the house—then into the bathroom to furiously scrub away at his face, neck, hands and arms with some funky concoction of rubbing alcohol and baby oil. When I inquired to the reason for his behavior, he simply replied through the tears that he didn’t want to get kicked out of school and . . . “I think we need more baby oil.”

Apparently, his four packages of child’s vanity tattoos that he so proudly pulled from his Christmas stocking and later splayed over and across nearly every inch of available skin, trying in vain to impersonate a number of characters at once from the Anime, Naruto, didn’t go over well with the teachers. He had violated “dress code,” his teacher had told him. The tats had to go or he’d be suspended.

Cut the kid some slack, I thought. For Christ’s sake, he’s a child—a little boy ecstatic about a simple (and cheap) gift, who wanted nothing more than to enjoy it. They’d gotten my attention. My hackles were raised. I couldn’t recall reading anything about tattoos in the school’s dress code. I sat down with David and we looked it up.

Never mind that tattoos of any kind are not addressed in the code, and never mind that the code does not apply to Third graders or younger, the disclaimers were obvious and clear. “An item of dress, article of clothing, or accessory should not be deemed ‘approved’ simply because it is not listed herein” . . . and “The administration reserves the right to address inappropriate clothing on an individual basis in all grades.”

According to the teacher, David was being disruptive, drawing attention to himself, distracting class.

Oh, the mystical allure of the tattoo . . . .

Such power to command every gaze in a room. I think next year, I’ll have Santa put ten packages of those “apply-with-a-damp-rag” tats inside the boys’ stockings.

Bryl R. Tyne is a wrangler by nature and a writer by choice, published with Noble Romance Publishing, Ravenous Romance, Dreamspinner Press, and STARbooks Press. You can find out more about Bryl at: bryltyne.com

This post is X-posted to The Rainbow Studio, Defying Description, and Bryl R. Tyne’s author blogs.

This meme is courtesy of Kris at Kris ‘N’ Good Books to Erotic Horizon to Jenna Byrnes, and now, to moi.

Here I go…

Rules:

2. You have to tag two other people once your done and pester them relentlessly until they do the meme too.
3. Instead of a meme image thing you have to post a cookie, preferably a twofer. It is an m/m meme after all.

After the kids’ sugar rush subsides and they’re fast asleep…after you’ve thrown your last egg or are still throwing back drinks, after you’re done decorating the asshole neighbor’s trees with you final roll of TP or just finished with that Horror movie marathon, come tell me all about it at my Halloween Chat!  http://tinychat.com/bryl-halloweenchat

Recant your most unique Halloween tale, be it this year’s or from decades ago, and you’re in the running to win your choice of any of my books–your choice!

Where: http://tinychat.com/bryl-halloweenchat

When: 11 pm to Midnight (EDT)

More Halloween Madness:

From Jaye Valentine – Happy Halloweensary

To celebrate our first year anniversary of our first published collaboration, Reno MacLeod and I will be celebrating Happy Halloweensary on Twitter, starting around 7:00 p.m. EDT on October 31, 2009.

Prizes, silliness, and drunken tweeting will abound, including a round of “Jaye’s Twitter-sized Movie Blurbs, Or Why Reno Writes Our Blurbs And Not Me.”

Please visit my Very Neglected Blog for details at: http://jaye-valentine.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-halloweensary-party-on-saturday.html

All are welcome!

From Noble Romance Publishing – Think Kink!

Spook-tacular Sale!

Noble Romance Publishing, LLC

Presents you with the chance to receive 20% off your entire order.

Good toward the purchase of any books on our Web site.

Simply visit Noble Romance Publishing, LLC, choose the book or books you’d like to purchase, and then enter promo code MXXDLR when you check out.

Offer valid Halloween day only – Expires 12:00 midnight EDT

Saturday, October 31, 2009.

Forward to a Friend: Forward

From Mistress Bellas Reviews - Mistress Bellas Halloween Bash!

Please join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mistressbellaspalace to find out how you can be involved in these chats, read great excerpts, see amazing covers, learn about your favorite authors and publishers, and win some treats!

October 31, 2009 Happy Halloween
9AM-10AM: Sherry Derr-Wille
10AM-11AM: Sandra Cox
11AM-Noon: Kerri Nelson
Noon-1PM: Megan Hussey
1PM-2PM: Rob Shelsky
2PM-3PM: Eve Alexis
3PM-4PM: Margie Church
4PM-5PM: Bev Haynes and Jewel Cox
5PM-6PM: Marc Nobbs
6PM-7PM: TWRP-Faery and Black Rose Authors
7PM-8PM: Maggie Rivers
8PM-9PM: Open
9PM-10PM: Lex Valentine HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEX!!!
10PM-11PM: Viv Arend
11PM-Midnight: Bryl Tyne  http://tinychat.com/bryl-halloweenchat

Novmeber 1, 2009
9AM-10AM: Sandra Sullivan
10AM-11AM: Jeanne St. James
11Am-Noon: Anne Kane
Noon-1PM: P.L. Parker
1PM-2PM: DCL Publishing
2PM-3PM: Julia Knight
3PM-4PM: Jianne Carlo
4PM-5PM: Olivia Starke
5PM-6PM: Selena Illyriz
6PM-7PM: Mallary Mitchell
7PM-8PM: Pam Champagne
8PM-9PM: Savannah Chase
9PM-1oPM: Sierra Dafoe
10PM-11PM: Mary Winter
11PM-Midnight: OPEN