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)
Why Discuss it Now?
Dan was silent for a long minute before responding. "Peter, look. We had a big argument. I'd left for dad's. She had only three months to live. I mean, why not?"
"I mean, why? You've argued with her before. You always did fine afterwards."
"I guess we'll never know."
"Dan, do you really want to be talking about this?"
"I've got to talk about it sometime."
"Yeah, but maybe later?"
"Your mother can't stop us here."
"So what are you going to do? I mean, long term?"
"I don't know. No, don't look at me that way! I'm a Mormon kid and don't want to live with a gay parent. I'll talk with the bishop and we'll get something fixed."
"Ok…" began Peter.
"Some people from the church are coming here to clean up." He looked around ruefully. "Needs it."
Peter looked happy to do something more than mope. "I think that sock on the floor died about six months ago."
He grabbed Dan's cane and used it to pick up the sock. He held his fingers over his nose. Dan laughed.
"Where's the hamper?"
"In the hall."
"One moment, young friend. It's off limits until I give the all clear."
Dan's smile froze. He knew just what Peter was doing. He heard the door to his mom’s room open and close.
"All clear, my son. You may proceed. And there's a lot to proceed too, you know," announced Peter.
Dan rose and leaned on his cane. "You're a mighty fine friend, my dear goalkeeper," he said seriously. He forced a smile and started to the door.
But before Peter could respond, someone banged on the front door. Peter reached it first. It was Oliver from across the street.
"Dan!" he said. "I read about it in the paper and finally saw you home tonight. Here!"
He thrust his way into the room, slightly pushing Peter out of the way. He carried a large tray filled with apples and fruits. There was a huge bag of tortilla chips as well as a quart-size jar of something red.
"I made the salsa myself," he said. "Be sure to put it in the fridge after you've opened it."
He put his arms around Dan and squeezed. "I'm so sorry, Daniel," he said, with a catch in his voice. "I'm just across the street, ok? You tell me when you run out of salsa, and I'll bring more, ok? You promise, ok?"
Oliver let himself out and pulled the door shut.
"What was that?" asked Dan.
"Get used to it," said Peter. "When my sister died, there was a constant stream of people for days."