The Widowmaker 1200 Short Story (Chapter Six: The Cherry Bomb Date & The Smell of Gasoline)

Book Title: The Widowmaker 1200 Short Story

Chapter Six: The Cherry Bomb Date & The Smell of Gasoline

The three-day wait for the Cherry Red Widowmaker 1200 felt interminable, despite the success of the Permit Party and getting Cassidy's number. Finally, the bike is ready for pickup. Dad, Patrick, insists on riding the powerful muscle cruiser home himself, citing Bruce's learner's permit restrictions, much to Bruce's disappointment.

At The Iron Horse, the Widowmaker 1200, dubbed "The Cherry Bomb," is a glorious sight. Dad, looking highly inappropriate in his sensible khakis, swings his leg over the seat. The engine roars to life—a sound of "freedom, danger, and exactly six thousand dollars worth of sheer cool." Dad pilots the majestic bike away with a jerky lurch, leaving Bruce to drive the sensible family sedan home.

The bike is parked in the garage, looking like a "majestic beast trapped in a suburban spa," while Mom lovingly dusts it with gardening gloves. After an hour of meticulous, supervised practice in an empty elementary school parking lot, Bruce gains a basic handle on the clutch.

That evening, Bruce messages Cassidy, who immediately agrees to a date. The next day, Bruce uses the fine print of his learner's permit—which he had memorized while rewriting the reflector chapter—to successfully counter Dad's "no passengers" rule, arguing his recent parking lot drills qualified him.

Bruce, feeling like a real Shadow Rider with Cassidy on the back in her black leather jacket, takes her on a meticulously slow, speed-limit-obeying ride to the cinema and a diner for ice cream waffles. Riding the Widowmaker 1200 with Cassidy provides an unparalleled feeling of joy and adrenaline. By the time he drops her off, his life has transformed. He speeds home just before curfew, realizing he hasn't just bought a motorcycle; he's bought a "whole new life" that is "fast, loud, and brilliantly, beautifully red."

Book Title: The Widowmaker 1200 Short Story

Author: Warren M. Walker

Publisher: V & W Publishing

https://publishing.irishknights.co.za/the-widowmaker-1200-short-story/

Available on Amazon.com:

Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/The-Widowmaker-1200-Short-Story-By-Warren-Walker/dp/B0FV3V1ZLH

Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/The-Widowmaker-1200-Short-Story-By-Warren-Walker/dp/B0FVT2YK47