Free The Final Shortcut by G. Bernard Ray

the box, unable to move.
    “Well open it.”
    She quickly tore away the wrapping and yanked open the box. “WOW!” She pulled out a soft, brown buckskin jacket with a thick rabbit fur collar and full lining. Her name was embroidered on the back in three-inch letters. Small hand-carved deer antler buttons ran down the front, and there was a matching purse.
    “Junior, this is gorgeous, you really shouldn’t have done all this.” She pushed her arms through the sleeves and pulled the collar around her neck. “Oooo….Junior this is so soft.”
    “My secret technique makes buck skin soft as kid leather.” He felt tall as a mountain seeing the look on her face and prepared himself her next surprise. “Do you really like it?”
    “Oh yes, everyone’s gonna be so jealous!” She purred now strutting about showing off her prize.
    “I was wondering...” He started to talk but his voice wavered. “I was wondering if you would go with me to the street dance later?”
    “Oh… I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m going with Wesley. You remember Wes…” Her voice trailed off as she remembered the events from so long ago. “I’m sorry Junior. I really am.” His face turned white and his head drooped very low.
    “Here, you should probably keep this.” She started to take off the jacket but he stopped her.
    “No, you keep it. I made it for you and I want you to have it. Unless your boyfriend will object.” He looked up and awaited her response.
    “He doesn’t own me; if he’s got a problem with it then he’ll just have to get over it.” She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for this. I’ll always cherish it.” She turned and walked away and he felt like he would die. How could she be dating that jerk? Junior turned to face his dad who had been watching quietly.
    “You OK?” He asked very pensively hoping this wouldn’t stir up some old emotions. “Yeh, but I should have asked her before I made the jacket.”
    Marty laughed and grabbed his son around the shoulder, “Let’s close up and go home.”
    “Yeh, OK…she would have been just as happy with a purse.” Marty laughed again feeling good about the way Junior was handling the refusal.
    “I’ll go get the truck. You lock up. We‘ll clean out the goods tomorrow.” Marty said as he walked away toward the parking lot.
    “OK.” Junior pulled down the front covers and closed the side door putting the padlock in place. Then he turned and punched the lid of a metal trash can so hard it dented and bounced off, clanging loudly to the ground.
    They worked their way through traffic slowly. The last day of the Fair was always the busiest. “You going to the dance tonight?” Junior was quiet. His eyes told Marty that he was miles away.
    “Huh, Oh no, I don’t think so. I really didn’t want to dance; I just thought it would be a good way to talk to Celeste.” Marty didn’t press it knowing she would probably be there with Wesley. Better to let sleeping dogs lie.
    “You want to come to ‘The Corral’ with me instead. There’s a dart tournament this weekend. We could enter as a team.” Junior smiled knowing what his dad was getting at.
    “No, you’re the dart champion, and don’t worry about me, I’m OK. Besides I’m almost finished with that mail order electronics course. I’ve got to study for the final test; it’s supposed to be here next week.” Marty smiled and turned at the old oak tree that marked the road to home.
    Junior had finished all the requirements for his high school diploma last fall at the age of fourteen. And now just four months past his birthday, he was already digging into more complicated subjects. His grades were good enough that he could have gotten a scholarship to almost any university. But since they hadn’t gone through the school system properly, his chances were slim. Friends in town had helped with his schooling for several years until the school board found out about it. They had wanted to