For a long, long time I've wanted to get a piercing. Originally, I planned on getting my eyebrow pierced. But neither my parents nor my school would allow it. In the various arguments I had with my mother over my right to self-expression, she often yelled, "I wouldn't mind if it was you're tongue - because people wouldn't be able to see it" (my parents are mind-numbingly single-minded and conformistic). I don't think she actually expected me to act on it!
At A Glance Author deak Contact deak@bme.anon When A week ago Artist David Studio Absolution Location Christchurch, New Zealand So a few weeks later (last week), as I was making my way home from school, I strolled past a piercing studio. I'd heard about this particular studio, everyone saying good things. I walked in and met David, the piercer. I chatted with him for a couple of minutes about getting my tongue pierced. He was great. He showed me the jewellery which would be put in and explained that it was so long to allow for swelling. I asked him if it would hurt. He told me that some people tend to struggle against the clamps, so their tongue tenses up, making the piercing more painful. "It's kinda like biting your tongue", he said. This seemed like good, honest advice. Then there was a silence. He obviously didn't want to pressure me, but I felt like an idiot standing on the spot. "Okay", I blurted out, "Let's do it". "Alright", he nodded, "I'll go get ready". He walked behind a curtain and I heard him clicking instruments or something. I lifted my palms off the glass counter. My knees were so we ak that I almost collapsed without the support of my arms. On the counter were two sweaty marks where my hands had been.
After that is a bit of a blur, up until I was lying on a stretcher-like table. He marked a dot on my tongue with a pen, and told me that since I have such a stubby tongue, that the piercing couldn't be very far back. I looked in the mirror and nodded approval. I rested my head again. I was intently watching the needle in his hands - I felt like I was getting a filling at the dentist. "You might wanna close your eyes", he said. This slightly unnerved me. Then I felt a slight pain, similar to an injection. "That's probably the most it will hurt", David said. For a few seconds I felt nothing, then a pain worse than the previous one, as he inserted the piercing. He screwed it on and told me to take a look at me new piercing. I was shaking so much from the adrenaline that I could hardly keep my mouth open to look in the mirror!
As I walked out the door I felt liberated. I walked passed the men in business suits, the toddlers being dragged along by their mothers, the buskers simultaneously playing guitars and harmonicas – and I felt free. It may sound like I'm glorifying my experience, but it was amazing. The actual piercing itself was another thing.
It felt huge. I was actually having trouble swallowing. That night was absolute hell. At home macaroni and cheese was for dinner (my favorite!), but all I could eat was soup. It's been eight days now, and it's only just starting to feel normal. I'm trying to stay off dairy foods like the aftercare booklet says, but I absolutely LOVE milk. Ah well, the things we sacrifice.
The first time I tried to actually chew something was later that night, when I found an open bag of chocolate biscuits just begging to be eaten. I stuck one in my mouth. Chew, chew, chew, CRUNCH! I never realised how much I move my tongue when I eat. It turns out that I often turned it entirely horizontal when I chewed! Every time I brought my teeth together I would catch the barbell. As a reflex action my tongue would automatically jump away, resulting in a slightly stretched piercing, and a sore tongue!
I had the same problem when simply playing with the barbell. I often flick the top of the barbell in front of my teeth (I don't know why, I just do). At first when I tried this, if I ever slightly tapped my tongue, it would jerk back, getting caught on my front teeth, and causing my piercing to bleed a considerable amount!
Well, my piercing hasn't yet healed totally, but I'm already thinking about getting something else. I think I might still stay discreet. Maybe a finger webbing. I haven't decided yet. People keep asking me why I got my tongue pierced, because it's hardly ever seen. It's hard to explain, but it almost gives me confidence. And it's not like I got it pierced for other people!
Well, if you're thinking about getting a piercing, I thoroughly recommend a tongue piercing. It's very subtle, and it heals quickly. But be warned: piercings are addictive!