Page 68 of Mess

Jane put down her fork. “What is it?”

“A saying... something I want to constantly be reminded of...”

“Which is?”

“You don’t want to guess?”

“ ‘Carpe diem’?”

“Oh god, Jane, it’s not that basic.”

“ ‘Hope springs eternal’?”

“Nope, but that’s a good one, and I’ve got plenty of real estate on my other forearm!” Teddy said, laughing.

“Or I could get it tattooed on my forehead.”

“I can see that for you, Jay. I love it.”

Jane speared a piece of meat. “Well, let me know what this one says first.”

“ ‘To thine own self be true,’ ” Teddy said, proudly.

Jane wasn’t sure exactly what she thought of this, but knew she needed to say something nice.

She was ambivalent about tattoos in general. They seemed like corporeal clutter, clutter that required laser treatments and a lot of pain to get rid of. Teddy had two other tattoos, both graphics: an hourglass on his arm, and a compass on his chest. They made sense, actually: a way to measure time, and a way to measure space. A reminder to maximize every hour, and explore every acre, while in this world. Jane had grown fond of them, and their message. This new addition,To thine own self be true? Well, obviously he was in a place where he needed affirmation.

“I love it.”

Teddy grinned. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Can’t go wrong with Shakespeare, can you? And I like the sentiment.”

“It probably means different things to different people.”

Jane made indentations on her mashed potatoes with her fork. “Why did you decide to get it?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about where I see myself in ten years, and what I really want from life....” Teddy trailed off, took a sip of wine, then continued. “And sometimes maybe I am too ambitious, chasing stuff that really isn’t right for me, for what I want, and to what end?”

This was a twist. Jane never thought of Teddy as overly ambitious.

“I am right there with you, Teddy.”

“Really?”

“Well, I’m less chasing stuff, more wanting to get rid of stuff...”

“Compulsive decluttering.”

“Not compulsive.”

“No, of course not,” he said with a chuckle.

“Why not clear out all the junk, and be left with only the essentials?” Jane asked.

“Which are what...?”

“I’m still figuring that part out. Work in progress.”