Dave Casler
PO Box 98
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
Young Adult Novels by Dave Casler...
I've been told by publisher after publisher that there's no market for Young Adult novels. I think they're wrong! So I'm putting my novels on-line for you. Forget the publisher! Read to your heart's content--it's free! And, I'd like to hear from you, too! Contact Page.
You're reading About Dan. Be sure to check out About Phillip here.
Dan is a normal kid who loves his soccer. Except everything goes wrong. Everything.
About Series Home
About the About Series
Index to All Chapters
Here are all the chapters, disguised as asterisks. Hover your mouse over an asterisk to see the title of the chapter. Click on the asterisk to go straight to that chapter.
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(About Dan Home) (Last) (Next)
On the Bus
Dan needed a better day. Monday’s attempt at school was a disaster—he should have known better. Tuesday improved--he lasted until noon. He made it through the entire day on Wednesday, but only because he skipped fourth period to nap in the nurse's office.
He succumbed to the nurse's suggestion that he seek help with the wheelchair. He hated the idea; in fact, he hated everything about the wheelchair. Leg straight out. No real mobility. No independence. Every turn of those infernal wheels sapped his diminished strength.
Peter was the answer.
Peter kept telling Dan not to worry about the Anderson game, since he was the goalie, after all. But the game the previous Thursday against Longmont High went poorly: Park lost 5-4. Peter was stoic; according to Peter, all goalies should be stoic. It was their third loss of the season. No, said Peter, we're doing fine without you. Better, in fact. Then every evening they’d gone back to troubleshooting Dan’s obstinate modem. They didn’t win that battle, either.
So, sighed Dan, it’s Thursday. The handicapped bus smelled musty. Several of Dan’s fellow passengers were Down Syndrome kids; some chatted happily among themselves, others looked morose. Next to Dan, also in a wheelchair, was a kid he had seen only once before. He rocked back and forth and sometimes talked to himself. Dan had heard he was autistic, or was it cerebral palsy, or was this the kid who was hurt a few years ago in that car accident that made the papers? The Down kids called him Kevin. Dan tried to say hello to Kevin on Tuesday, but Kevin seemed frightened. Sometimes the Down Syndrome kids would try to talk with Dan, but their funny expressions and distorted speech made him uncomfortable, so he made minimal replies and looked away. They went back to talking amongst themselves. Dan was miserable.
A teacher Dan didn’t recognize waited for the Down kids. They seemed genuinely happy to see her; she hugged each, even the morose ones. Their faces lighted up and then they were gone.
Then it was Dan's turn. Dave, the driver, looked like he was going to say something cheerful, but Dan made a sour face. Peter pulled Dan off the lift so Dave could deal with Kevin.
"Your chauffeur is late," said Peter dryly. "First period starts in three minutes."
Dan said nothing.
"You're cheerful this morning. Left your tongue at home?"
"I hate that bus!" Dan spat. " I hate being in a wheelchair."
They watched as another teacher wheeled Kevin past them and into the building. Kevin looked up at the teacher the whole time as though trying to figure out who she was. Peter didn't say anything but Dan could tell what he was thinking. So Kevin’s in a wheelchair, thought Dan. Is that supposed to make me feel better?
"Sorry," said Dan. "Just grumpy this morning. Had another big argument with mum."
Peter deposited Dan at a table at the back just as the bell rang.
"Gotta run, old buddy," whispered Peter. "I have a pre-approved excuse to move your butt all over campus today, but I still have to be in class. I'll see you when Osmoore finishes with you." He was gone.