Alaska || Auston Matthews

twenty one

ALASKA

Today's the day! My day to be precise. I'm officially 19 and legal. Well at least legal in Toronto, however, I'm still a baby in the U.S.

My mom made me my favorite breakfast, gave me a necklace, and then left me alone for a while before suggesting that we go shopping. I agreed because this was one of the rare occasions she suggested that we do something together. She even told Tom off when he asked to come with us. She claimed that this was strictly a mother-daughter day; no boys allowed. I was surprised with how normal she was acting. And when I say normal, I mean she was acting like she did back home: genuine and fun. 

To make matters better, she wore clothes that didn't make her look arrogant fifty-year-old mother of four. She also didn't act like it when we got to the mall; she almost acted younger than me, running from store to store, making fun of the absurd clothing for sale. 

We did a little shopping, getting a few things here and there, but never spending a ton on unnecessary things. A weird sense of nostalgia hit me as we bargain shopped and scarfed down pretzel bites from the food court. This was exactly what we did back home when we were short on money and were still incredibly close. In fact, we were practically best friends, telling each other everything, making inside jokes, and spectating different celebrity gossip. 

But as soon as she met Tom, everything changed. Suddenly, she wasn't there every night for me to vent to. She wasn't there to take long drives with or go on late night ice cream runs. Instead, she would be out with Tom, living the lavish life we would always make fun of. At first, I could tell how sorry she was that she wasn't around as much, and I felt happy for her. But eventually, she didn't even bother telling me she was sorry for leaving, and I started to confide in myself instead of my distant mother.

Since then, I've wished that something would change between us, and this shopping trip has given me more hope than I've had in the past two years. 

My mother must be feeling the sudden nostalgia as well because she keeps cracking jokes and laughing about literally everything. It brought me so much joy to see her this genuine and happy. I would easily take her and our bond over any birthday present.

Perhaps her wildest moment came towards the end of our shopping spree, about an hour before I had to head to dinner with Steph. We were walking back towards the car, bags and coffee in hand when she stops and stares at a gleaming storefront with a devilish smile. I stop beside her, eyes settling on the giant sign on the window that reads 'tattoos' in big block letters.

"I'm scared to ask why we're stopped in front of this place," I tell her, still staring at the upscale tattoo parlor. 

"Then don't," she says, marching up to the front door and swinging it open, setting off a little welcome bell. Given no other choice, I catch up to my mother and follow her inside the shop. A short man with a full sleeve of tattoos greets us at the front desk with a skeptical smile.

"What can I do for you ladies?" he asks professionally, glancing at me. I remain silent because I honestly have no idea what we are doing in here. My ever so subtle mother leans on the counter before confidently answering.

"I think we're going to get tattoos," she says, motioning between herself and me. I give the man a shaky smile, but he nods and motions for us to follow him. He leads us through the sparse shop, past a red head in the process of getting a tattoo, finally stopping at a large leather chair and table. He motions for us to sit on the stools at the table as he takes a seat a chair on the other side of the wooden table.

"So, you're both getting tattoos?" he asks, pulling out a tablet of paper and pencil. My mother glances at me and I give her a small nod in confirmation that I'll be going along with her crazy plan.