A teenage restaurant worker in Changhua County spent four years saving up to pay to have an image of his parents tattooed on his back after they perished in a car accident 14 years ago and had the work done last month, saying he wanted them to accompany him on his way to become a restaurateur.
Wang Yu-kai (王煜凱), 19, said he barely remembers his parents, as he was only five years old when they died, and it was his grandparents who brought him up.
He said his classmates would poke fun at him because he had no parents and he often sobbed over photographs of his parents when he felt distressed.
Photo: Yen Hung-chun, Taipei Times
A tattoo parlor opened near Wang’s residence in Yuanlin Township (員林) when he was in the seventh grade, which was when the idea of getting a tattoo of his parents arose, he said.
He made a price inquiry with the parlor and was given a generous offer by the owner, who Wang quoted as saying: “Because of your love for your parents, I will only charge you NT$12,500.”
However, that sum was beyond the 13-year-old Wang, who had no money at all, so he kept the idea on hold until last month, he said.
He studied restaurant management at Da Der Commercial and Technical Vocational School and saved up by working temporary jobs, but he spent all the money helping pay medical bills for his grandparents, whose health has been declining, and hiring a household caregiver, he said.
He graduated from the school last year and kept saving for his tattoo until he finally reached the sum last month, when he rushed to the parlor to get the tattoo done, he said.
The tattoo artist spent four-and-a-half hours inking an image from a photo on Wang’s left shoulder, Wang said, adding that he was pleased with the result.
There is a tinge of cuteness to the image, as his parents died young, he said.
Under the image of his parents is a message in English: “Don’t forget the initial dream.”
Now he carries his parents on his shoulder, he said.
Wang said he misses his parents very much and wants to tell them: “I came all the way step-by-step with only dim memories of you. Thank you for letting me learn to be independent. I have your expectations in mind and will realize my dream step-by-step.”
He said he promised his parents that he would open a restaurant with a distinctive style.
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