By 8 a.m. on Friday, September 13, a line had already formed outside CR Ink in Columbia. People laugh and talk as they ponder the designs displayed in the store’s window.

On the other hand, artists are preparing for their biggest event of the year. CR Ink is one of countless tattoo shops around the world taking part in the tradition of Friday the 13th flash tattoos.

Tattoo artist Scott Murk came all the way from South Haven, Michigan to work the event in Columbia.

“I get to meet all these new people, make all these new contacts and give everyone a memory for a lifetime,” Murk said.

Tattoo artist Oliver Peck from Dallas, Texas started celebrating Friday the 13th in the mid-90s by tattooing the number 13 on his friends. He popularized the deal of a $13 tattoo with a $7 tip for the lucky number seven.

Artists traveled to Dallas to take part in the tradition and help with the increased demand. As the event grew, so did Peck’s ambitions. Pecking set the record for most tattoos done in one day, on July 13, 2001, and re-placed on June 13, 2008.

Peck’s influence on tattoo culture is one of the focuses of an upcoming documentary called “The Number 13: A Tattoo History.”

Justin Wilsonthe film’s director, says the documentary examines the unfortunate omen of 13 and how it manifests itself in other parts of society such as tarot cards and gang culture.

Wilson said in tattoo culture the number 13 is considered protection against bad luck.

“When bad luck comes and it sees you have a 13, it says, ‘Oh, the bad luck is already there,’ and I move on to the next person,” he said.

It is this unconventional superstition in favor of the number 13 that keeps the tradition of Friday the 13th flash alive. That, Wilson said, and the human desire to participate.

“We love being part of a phenomenon,” he said. “Everyone likes to tell the story that you went to the tattoo shop at two in the morning and the tattoo artist almost passed out because he was so tired from tattooing all day, and so your line is a little messed up.”

At CR Ink, community is at the forefront of Friday the 13th tattoos.

Berenice Derreza attended CR Ink’s 13th October Flash Event last Friday. She said the event offers a chance to form a unique bond with strangers.

“Sometimes you see other people who have the same tattoo and you say, ‘Oh my God, were you at that other Friday the 13th event?'” she said.

Jackie Keely came to the store to celebrate her 40th birthday with her sister. The couple happened to be left with matching tattoos after opting for the same design.

For Keely, it’s a reminder to leave some room for whimsy in life.

“Friday the 13th tattoos are just something fun that doesn’t necessarily have a deeper meaning, but it just reminds me that it’s not that serious,” she said.

Friday the 13th comes and goes, but the stories will remain etched in memory – and skin – for years to come.

Pop-up flash events are taking place today at tattoo shops across the KBIA listening area, including Living canvas in Colombia, The gold-plated lily tattoo and piercing in Moberly, Century tattoo in Ashland, Why not Tat2? in Kirksville and more.