Hand-drawn flash design of three blue and black waves above the cursive word home, drawn on plain paper.

Three waves above cursive script on paper

Lettering · Mixed · Flash

A hand-drawn design of three stylised waves, outlined in black ink with blue marker shading along their undersides. Beneath them, the word home is written in flowing cursive black ink, ending in a long trailing line to the right. The drawing sits on a plain off-white paper background.

Lettering Wave Script Home Sea

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Nan, the wind has finally gone round to the west, so I am writing this on the chart table with the stub of pencil you tucked into my oilskin. We cleared the Spurn at first light and the skipper says the Humber will have us by Thursday if the tide keeps its temper. Tell Mr Okafor the lower field is not to be grazed until the ground dries, whatever he thinks about the grass.

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The swell came up in threes all night, long grey shoulders that lifted the bow and then let it fall like a dropped plate. Ruari, who is from Stornoway and never says anything twice, counted them for me on the first night so I would stop counting them myself. One, two, three, then a gap for breath. By the third watch I could tell which wave would curl before it did, the way you can tell a kettle is about to sing. I did not tell him how frightened I was. I think he knew anyway.

Last night the moon came out over a sea the colour of pewter, and for a minute everything went quiet except the hull knocking against itself. I thought about the back step, the bucket by the gate, the light that sits on the kitchen table at six. I thought the word home and it came out in my own handwriting, leaning forward as if in a hurry to reach the end of the line. That is how I know I am coming back. The sea is only the long way round.

Rattle the kettle when you hear the engine. I will be on the quay pretending I am not waving. The pencil is nearly finished, so I will sign off here: your loving grandson, Callum. P.S. Keep the light on at the back door.