[Jehan Chumomisto]

“I will now teach you how to make a tattooing needle. It is not hard young Jehan, it is much like sharpening the end of a stick but instead we will use bones. Not just any bones but those that are from a bird” he informed her student getting right onto the lesson plan for the brightening. “You will also learn how to create your own inks. It is a delicate art, it will take time to master but once you do you will be happy. Is there any questions that you have since our last lessons?”

Jehan thought for a second “none really…I was just curious how your granddaughter was after her tattoo?” he asked curiously. It had been the first real person he ever helped besides the old woman herself. Jehan knew that she knew how to take care of her tattoo and likely ensured that her granddaughter did the same.

“She is doing very well young manus” Anagaja smiled kindly. “Now, let us start” she suggested as she handed Jehan a small bone as well as a small carving knife. “Be careful. bird bones break much easier than sticks even of the same thickness do. You want to make it as sharp as possible. We will start off with a fine tipped one as you will not be doing any coloring yet. That will come later.” She instructed as she began to make something to drink.

Jehan got to work straight away, carving layer after layer of the bone making it sharp at one end. It took him some time, he was careful he didn’t want to have to start all over again. He was a patient boy anyway, this tedious work didn’t bother him. With each layer of bone that came off he turned it making it as even as he could. When he was done he offered it to Anagaja for inspection. She nodded in approval.

“It is a little off center but not to much. What you need to do now is make a little notch near the tip so that the ink has a place to rest.” She instructed and demonstrated on one of her own. Jehan nodded and carefully cut a small groove into the needle and showed the woman again who nodded. “Very good. The more that you practise the better you will get. When you have become very good you will be able to run your needle lightly across paper and it should rip with no extra force.”

She demonstrated with her own needle then with Jehan’s that needed a little more force. “Do not worry yet though, you are still new to the craft.”