Note: These Characters are not mine, please do not sue me!

Sheffield Ink

by

Sammy
(Smsluvkats@aol.com)

Fran sat in her room thinking over the day’s events. Her mother had just found out about her secret tattoo and apparently her boss was intrigued by it. Fran now had two choices to make. She could either keep her tattoo and have an advantage in nabbing Mr. Sheffield or remove her tattoo and look forward to spending all of eternity in a grave next to her parents. After sitting in her room for over three hours she had come to a decision.

She went into Maggie’s room and found the teenager moping on her bed. “Still want that tattoo?” Fran asked. “Yea, but Dad said I couldn’t and….” “Don’t worry about what your Dad said. Look, I really shouldn’t be doing this but I’m going to take you to get that tattoo. Plus, I have an idea of how we can get him to be in support of it.” “How?” “Just you leave that to me. Now, fix your make-up and let’s get going.”

A half-hour later Fran and Maggie arrived at the tattoo parlor. As soon as she walked into the room Fran could see Maggie’s expression changing. “You feeling okay, Mags?” Fran asked the obviously nervous teen. “Y-yes F-Fran, I’m fine.” Maggie replied, staring frighteningly at the walls. “Alright. Just making sure.” Fran said as she smiled to herself. Everything was going exactly as she had planned.

Back at the Sheffield house, Maxwell was scouring the place, looking for Miss Fine. “Niles,” Max asked, “Do you happen to know where Miss Fine ran off to?” “Well Sir,” Niles replied while trying to act as natural as he could, “Miss Fine told me to tell you that she was going to take Miss Margaret down to Skippy’s Tattoo Shop over on 42^nd and that they’d be back just in time for dinner.” “Oh, well as long as they don’t miss… What did you just say?” “I said that Miss Fine was going to..” “I know what you bloody well said! I’m just having a bit of trouble comprehending it. I can’t believe after I told Margaret that the answer was ‘no’ Miss Fine has to go and defy me. Well, I’m not going to let her get away with this. Niles, get my coat. Looks like I’m going to Skippy’s!” And with that Maxwell left for the tattoo parlor.

Max arrived at the tattoo parlor to find Margaret sitting on a bench by herself with no Miss Fine in sight. “Margaret Sheffield!” Max screamed at the top of his lungs. “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing in a place like this!” “Well,” Maggie replied, “I was going to get a tattoo but then I chickened out.” At that moment Maggie ran over and threw her arms around her father. “I’m sorry Daddy! I don’t know what I was thinking and I promise that I’ll never do something as irrational and stupid as this ever again!” “Aw, don’t worry I forgive you sweetheart.” After his daughter’s apology Max remembered what was missing from this picture. “Maggie darling, do you happen to know where Miss Fine might be?” “Yea, she’s in the back getting her tattoo changed.” Without showing any hesitation, Maxwell ran into the back room to deal with Miss Fine, once and for all.

The first thing Max saw when he walked into the room was Miss Fine putting her pants back on. “Miss Fine, what in God’s name do you think you’re doing!” Max shouted. “Oh, Mr. Sheffield what are you doing here? I didn’t expect to see you until Maggie and I got home.” “My daughter and her nanny run off to some God forsaken tattoo parlor and you expect me to just sit around twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the two of you to return!” “Well, I don’t know about the twiddling your thumbs part, but if that’s what you do to pass away time then…” “Miss Fine!!” “Alright, I admit that I it was a mistake to bring Maggie her after you told her that she couldn’t get a tattoo. However, if you would allow me to explain my reasoning maybe you would have a different opinion.” “ You’re right, Miss Fine. I should’ve let you explain yourself before I jumped down your throat. How about you tell me your side of the story on your way over to the unemployment office!” Max shouted as he escorted Maggie and Miss Fine out of the tattoo parlor.

For the next few weeks Fran tried to get Max to forgive her for the whole tattoo incident. She tired tactic after tactic, but nothing seemed to work. One night after dinner Fran decided that she’d try to have a simple conversation with Maxwell, secretly hoping that this would help smooth things over between the two of them. Fran sat him down in the kitchen with the sincerest look in her eyes. “Miss Fine, I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to butter me up so that when you give me you’re little schpiel about how Maggie needs to make mistakes so that she can spread her wings and fly I don’t get upset and I understand where you’re coming from and everything else gets pushed under the rug and we move on as if nothing ever happened. Well, I’d hate to burst your bubble but that idealistic situation isn’t going to happen tonight!” “Once again, if you’d allow me to explain myself then maybe that vain in your head would stop pulsing and your blood pressure wouldn’t be through the roof! “All right you win. Explain yourself.” “I’d be glad to. You see I didn’t want Maggie to get a tattoo just as much as you. So, I decided that rather than just telling her ‘no’ the most effective way to get the whole tattoo business off her mind was to actually take her to a tattoo parlor and show her what getting a tattoo is all about. Well, as soon as we arrived at the tattoo parlor Maggie turned as white as a ghost, which is much more intense than I anticipated. Then, when it came time for her to pick out what kind of tattoo she wanted she ran outside crying. So, with Maggie’s desire for a tattoo permanently destroyed and since we still had time to kill, I decided to get that little tattoo that I have changed from ‘Danny’ to ‘Max’. Personally, I wasn’t sure how the guy was going to do this but you should see what that little baby looks like now! I am telling you that Skippy is such a genius.” “Miss Fine what did you say you got your tattoo changed to again?” Max asked, suddenly intrigued. “Oh, nothing important. Well, I see you tomorrow Mr. Sheffield.” Miss Fine said as she quickly skipped up the stairs.

Maxwell spent the rest of the night tossing and turning in his bed. Did Miss Fine really change her tattoo of her ex-fiancé’s name so that it now bared his? And if this really were true what in the world would possess her to do a thing like that? Then, as if he had just been struck by lightening, Max had a revelation. He sat up in bed, contemplating how he was going to handle the next day.

The next morning Max awoke with his plan still fresh in his mind. As he got dressed he wondered why it took him so long to develop a plan like this. Not only was it clever, but it would also give both Miss Fine and himself exactly what they wanted.

After breakfast Max pulled Fran aside for another little talk. “Um, am I in any trouble? ‘Cause if this is going to take long I better call Val and let her know that I’m going to be late picking her up for the movies.” “Don’t worry Miss Fine, you’re not in any trouble. I just wanted to clarify what name you got your tattoo changed to.” “Oh, was that all? Well, once again, the new name that my tattoo bares is ‘Max’.” “I thought that was it. Just making sure I heard right.” “Well you did. So, if that’s all I’d better be going. The movie Val and I want to see starts in an hour so that means we have to take two busses and the subway and plus all that traffic! I swear this city is turning into such a disaster it really blows my..” “Miss Fine!” Max screamed, in order to end her rant. “Oh, sorry. You weren’t done?” “No, I wasn’t. I just wanted to ask you one more thing. Why would you get my name tattooed on you body?” “Well, who said it was your name. It could be referring to another Max that I know.” “Really? You know another man named Max?” “No, but ..” “Look, Miss Fine. I’ve known that you’ve had feelings for me for a long time. And I have to admit that when I said that I loved you on the plane back from Paris, I meant it. It really hurt when I took it back.” “So, what are you trying to say?” “I’m trying to say that if you’re free this Friday night that I think it would be a good idea for us to have a date.” “Oh, Mr. Sheffield! I accept!” And with that Fran flung her arms around Mr. Sheffield’s neck and kissed him.

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