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)
Halloween Brings a Scare
Dan continued to trick-or-treat as a teen; had it not been for his bum leg and the cold weather, he would still be out there, holding out his pillowcase in his usual clown costume (complete with red nose), along with Peter.
But this Halloween he was at home. He was used to his mother's afternoon routine; she headed straight for a nap. That's where she was as he set up a chair so he could open the door, see the kids, hand out the candy, and close the door all without getting up. His leg was aching, since he'd banged it getting out of the bus, so he was quite happy to be off it.
As the evening wore on, the kids got older; some of the groups were without parental escort. Occasionally he'd recognize some of the kids from church or the siblings of friends; he'd chat with them. He was having a good time.
About 7:30, his mother woke from her nap. She came into the room, stretching. She wrapped her robe about herself tightly.
"Dan, it's freezing in here! What's going on?" she said.
"Hi, mum. There are so many kids the cold air gets in."
There was another knock at the door. Dan opened the door and a host of goblins shouted "trick or treat!" at the same time. There was pushing and shoving as Dan put a pack of M&Ms into each bag. One of the kids asked for an extra for her brother.
"What's your brother's name," asked Dan, slyly. The girl had to think for a moment and the other kids started to laugh and jeer. Dan grinned and said "Maybe next time, ok," and put the M&Ms back in the bucket. He closed the door and turned back to his mother.
"Why'd you let me sleep so long?" asked his mother with a big yawn. She sat down where she could watch.
"You seemed really tired. What did the doctor say?"
"He wants me to see a specialist. He wouldn't tell me much, but gave me a name. He made an appointment for me next week." She yawned again and stretched. "He wants me to have some tests."
"What kind of tests?" asked Dan.
They were distracted by another round of young people. These were definitely taller. He recognized one as a freshman at Park. There was good-natured banter before the door finally closed.
"So, what kind of tests," he persisted.
"I don't know. They're going to inject dye and take x-rays. They're concerned about my stomach."
"I've been a lot of work for you the last couple months. Have I given you an ulcer?"
Maria smiled. "Dan, I love you. You're my son. I know I get frustrated with you sometimes, but no, it's not an ulcer. At least they don't think so."
She’s not telling me anything. " What kind of specialist," he pressed.
"Oh, I'll have to look on the card," she said, dismissively. "I have so much to do tonight." She stopped for a minute and looked at Dan. "But I think it can wait. Do you mind if I sit next to you and help you with the candy? I haven't done this with you before."
Dan was suspicious. What was she hiding? But it was clear she didn't want to talk; he didn't want to provoke an argument, especially when she was being nice for a change. She pulled a chair from the kitchen; in the space of twenty minutes they gave candy to thirteen groups of children. By this time there were no more small children; all the kids were boisterous teens or pre-teens.
Dan realized he and his mother were laughing together. He felt completely relaxed. It felt good.
The phone rang just as yet another trick-or- treater was knocking. Maria got up to get the phone where she'd left it on the kitchen table. She brought it to Dan just as he closed the door.
"He won't say who he is but he says it's extremely important he speak with you. He has an accent, but I can't place it." She handed the phone to Dan.