Mixed colour tattoo of Calvin and Hobbes lying in grass beside a dark tree on the inner upper arm, with the quote 'I suppose it will all make sense when we grow up'.

Calvin and Hobbes quote on upper arm

Upper arm · Mixed · Photo

The tattoo shows Calvin lying in grass beside a tiger, Hobbes, with a dark tree trunk and leafy branches behind them. Bold black outlines and solid black areas sit alongside orange and tan stripes, a skin-toned face and small pale green birds. The quote 'I suppose it will all make sense when we grow up' is set in block capitals across the centre of the arm.

Upper arm Tiger Tree Bird Grass Quote Lettering Cartoon character

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Take it to an artist as a reference. A good artist will make it yours rather than copy someone else's tattoo.

A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

The Bramleys in the bottom orchard at Hollins Farm are so heavy this late in August that the branches nearly touch the grass, and the wasps have found every windfall before you. Your mother has told you to keep out of the long grass, so you lie in it anyway, with your jumper rucked up under your arms and your tiger, Brindle, stretched out beside you like a fallen log that happens to breathe. Over the hedge a row of greenfinches lifts off all at once, as if someone has shaken them loose.

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Brindle says grown-ups keep a secret list of things that matter, and that the list only makes sense once you have grown the long legs to reach it. You ask whether the apples know about the list. He thinks about this with his whole striped body, then says the apples know exactly what they are for and never once worry about it. You pick a small green fruit from the grass, bite it, and decide it is far too sour to be anything but true.

From the back gate your mother calls that the kettle is on and the bus leaves at half past seven whether you are ready or not. You do not go in yet. The light turns the colour of weak squash over the far trees, and the tree trunk behind you goes black and lumpy with shadow. Brindle yawns and says the trunk will still be standing when you are tall enough to reach its lowest branch. Somewhere in the dark an apple lets go and drops, and you count the thuds the way you count everything, to be sure there are still enough of them.