That middle aged mall goth

Age: 32
Interests: Lord Voldemort, out dated industrial metal, and L'Oreal Paris makeup sales
Occupation: Product returns at Best Buy
Description: Has a specific set of rules how to dress in order to not be a conformist

Jack's parents were simple good people who settled down building a white picket fence in suburbia as their parents before them had. The only hopes they had for Jack was for him to get a good education, find a good job and live a life of joy as they cradled him in their arms in the hospital after his birth.

Fast forward 32 years.

Every weekend Jack loiters around in shopping centers with a face more expressionless then Keenu Reeves at his best acting. He observes the conformists around him walk from shop to shop in this concrete crypt of mediocrity. Adorning his finest Matrix-esk trench coat and white facepaint thicker then Linsay Lohans coke lines, he lurches towards the closest Hot Topic.

Jacks parents had hoped it was just a highschool phase, but its stuck around longer then a final closing down sale of a rug store. They gave him much space hoping he would grow out of it, but all it created was a creature of the darkness living in their basement pouting over his 20" PVC boots worse then Gollum over a ring.

Walking into the closest Hot Topic he rolls his eyes as he hears "OMG its a vampire!" followed by the preppy laughter of teenage girls. As he turns towards them putting on a scary face in sarcasm, another goes "No he's just one of those weirdos dressed up as a clown for that IT movie." "Lets get a selfie with him, it would be so funny" "OMG Steph your such a random bitch, lets do it." While Jack hates the mainstream society for how they belittle him, he poses for the photo because deep down its really attention that he craves.

As Jack fumbles with his 10 year Ipod trying to drown out whatever mindwashing Michael Buble track is playing through the malls speakers, he gets stuck trying to pick between Marilyn Manson or Evanescence for the next song. Suddenly he feels a tap on the shoulder and turns around to clean shaven man wearing Abercrombie & Fitch.

"Jack. Its me Evan.... well 15 years ago, Raven of Darkness. How have you been?"

Jack recollects back to his late teens. He recalls there used to be a murder he would loiter with (a group of crows) and by early 20's they all stopped coming. Jack listens to Evan talk about his promotion in the office, his wife, first kid, and how they've just bought their first white picket home in suburbia. They then part ways.

Once again as the mall closes, Jack returns home to his parents basement. He feels accomplished knowing he spent nothing to support the corporations who suck the life out of human sheep, and had done his best to spread his misery across the masses by just being present. After speaking with Evan, Jack starts to question himself.

Is being a mall goth still cool? Even in your 30's?

Maybe it is time to grow up.