Leather Jacket Swag

As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. Now the only problem was the price. I had a sneaking suspicion it would be high. And a sinking feeling that there were only forty euros in my wallet. If only I hadn’t tried to be responsible, and had taken out more money like I had originally wanted to! Suddenly, I saw another girl eying up my beautiful maroon leather jacket, and I swooped in. Credit card fees be damned, I needed it.

As I turned over the price tag, I felt intense joy. 18 euros?! Only 18 euros for the perfect leather jacket I had been scouring France to return home with It was elation. It was love. I knew that as soon as I put it on, I would be cooler than Jess Mariano, and command more attention than Audrey Hepburn once she donned those shades.

The rest of my two weeks in France changed my life. I know, a leather jacket, changing someone’s life? Absurd, but true. I had never been cultured before, but somehow, when wearing my leather jacket, I was suddenly cool enough to utilize my french skills, and speak to that cute waiter in the cafe, or ask directions to the place I was trying to find. Before, although embarrassing to admit, it had been very like me to worry too much to ask directions, and I would return back home without actually going anywhere in this amazing country. On one of these days, when I finally felt confident armed with my leather jacket, I turned and asked a man (in french, of course) how to get to the Louvre. He told me the way, and as I walked the few miles, the intimidation that museums had earlier held disappeared.

In the Louvre, I realized that I should embrace becoming the person I was destined to be. I knew that it was time to mature, discover who my true friends are, and end the on going petty arguments that had been deteriorating my relationship with my mother since I turned fourteen. In those moments, I changed my high school experience. Somehow, my leather jacket had given me the confidence to leave fake friends and petty arguments in the dust, and embrace those who loved me.

And now, whenever I put my very faded leather jacket on, I’m back in France, looking over the Seine and fully understanding the decisions I needed to make. I know that without it, I wouldn’t have the relationship I have with my mom today. And when I look at my best friends, the ones who stood by me through it all and showed me what true friends are, I’m so grateful for that fateful day, back in Plimkie, when I stumbled upon my perfect leather jacket.