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)
Ernesto's Third Time is a Charm
"Don't hang up. I have something important." Dan recognized Ernesto's voice immediately.
"What do you want?" said Dan angrily. "Why are you calling me?"
"Don't tell anyone. But you must do something. Quietly. And urgently."
"What." A statement, not a question.
"You must get an AIDS test."
Dan's heart went into his throat. The peace and good humor evaporated. He looked down at the floor to concentrate; he didn't hear the next knock. His mother pretended not to hear it either.
"Why." Again, a statement.
"Because I have AIDS, that's why. Several times I tried to tell you, but I got cold feet. And, you really do yell quite loudly."
Dan couldn't think of anything to say.
"Just do it," continued Ernesto. There was pleading in his voice. He hung up without waiting for an answer.
Dan pressed the "off" button and slowly put the phone on the floor. Ernesto couldn't have hit him harder if he'd used his fist. He sucked in his breath and blew it out slowly.
"Dan! Dan! What?"
He looked back at her. He was still trying to figure out what to say.
"Nothing. An idiot. From school. I'll take care of it tomorrow."
"No, Dan, I don't believe you. Tell me!"
"I said I'll take care of it tomorrow. It's nothing to worry about."
"Dan, I'm your mother. I have a right to know what's going on."
"Mom, just a few minutes ago we were enjoying each other. Can we just go back to that?"
"What's going on, Dan! Are you dealing drugs or something?"
Dan's anger level went up by several degrees. He rose and grabbed a crutch.
"Mother! Take it back!"
She rose, too. "I will not! Not until you tell me what that phone call was about." She used her firmest voice. She was trembling.
"No! Just plain no! You have your own little secrets. I'm sixteen! You can tell me the truth yourself. You hide things from me! Things I ought to know!" he shouted.
"Daniel! What are you talking about?" she spat back.
"Like what's really going on with you."
She was silent. She glared at him. "I choose not to tell you. It would just worry you. You don't need to know these things. I'm fine. I mean, I'll be fine." She turned away, but Dan could see her tears.
"I don't think so," he shouted. "Well, two can play at this game."
He turned off the porch light, grabbed his other crutch and went into his room. He slammed the door behind him.
For a moment, he just stood there, his chest heaving. He heard his mother slam the door to her room.
He went to his desk and threw himself into his chair. He thought of calling Peter, but the phone was still on the floor in the living room, by the door and the half-empty bucket of M&Ms. He looked at his computer; with a sudden rush, he logged onto his school e-mail account.
Dad, I don't know what to do. I just found out the guy my bone stabbed on the soccer field is HIV positive. He says I need to get an AIDS test. Mom's all mad at me because she knows I have a secret but I won't tell her. And she's totally freaking out because something's going on with her doctor and she won't tell me. I'm scared. Tell me what to do. I have no idea how to get an AIDS test. Dan P.S. Absolutely don't tell anyone. Please!
He turned off the computer. He stared at his schoolwork for a moment and then angrily swept it all onto the floor. He felt tears on his cheeks. He put his head in his hands; he convulsed in sobs. He suddenly stood, grabbed a crutch and lunged to his bed, throwing the crutch across the room as he fell down on his face. He sobbed uncontrollably.
After a full minute, he slipped off the bed until his good knee was on the floor. His other leg stretched out awkwardly.
"Father, father, where art thou?" he sobbed. "Are you really there? "Why is this happening to me? What have I done to deserve this? Where are you? Who are you? Oh, God, are you there?"
He felt his chest burn, way down deep inside. For a moment he thought he might throw up. He gave up praying. No voice; no thoughts coming into his head—just pain and confusion. Empty. Drained. Emotionally exhausted. He felt nothing except the burning; he'd never felt anything like it before. Heartburn. Too many M&Ms.
He lifted himself onto the bed. The desk lamp was still on; his schoolwork was scattered on the floor. His bum knee ached. He didn’t care.
He saw a giant bird with dark green feathers circling him. Ernesto was atop the bird, shouting and swearing at him, holding a large whip which he swung back and forth. He cracked it. Snap. He snapped it again, inches away. Dan screamed.
His scream woke him. It was morning, the first of November. All Saints Day.