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)
A Clear December Monday
Peter woke Dan at 7:30 on Monday morning. Dan showered, breakfasted and dressed in his church clothes, all in near silence. Peter didn't try for conversation but occasionally patted Dan's shoulder. Dan shrugged it off.
In contrast to the snow of Sunday, Monday dawned bright and clear, the sky all the more blue because of two inches of powder. He could hear Jesse shoveling out front. Peter joined him with a broom to sweep off the porch. Both wore sunglasses against the brilliant glare.
They picked up Aunt Betsy, then arrived at the chapel at nine o'clock, all squished in Jesse's car. The shiny black hearse was parked backwards in the handicapped spaces. Dan recognized Bishop Parker's car as well as Brother Sam's. His brain was taking in information but not processing it.
Dan, Betsy, Peter, Marilyn and Jesse got out of the car and crunched through the snow toward the front door. Bishop Parker and Brother Sam came out the door as the fivesome came even with the hearse. The bishop's smile was muted but he still greeted the Fawke's and Aunt Betsy with his usual strong grip. He pulled Dan into a hug; this nearly undid his determination to keep his composure. Brother Sam did the same thing, except his hug seemed longer and warmer to Dan, more like a brother's than a father's. Without any words, they went into the building and into the Relief Society room.
Bishop Parker drew off Jesse and they went out to review arrangements. Dan sat next to Aunt Betsy in a corner, near Marilyn and Peter. Sister Jones was there bustling about as usual. She spoke with Marilyn at one point; the two went down to the kitchen to supervise the arrangements for the luncheon.
Dan tried to make small talk with his Aunt. He discovered his Aunt joined the church the same time as his mother. She had two children, one of whom Dan remembered and one he didn't. Her husband wanted to come to the funeral but they couldn't afford the airfare; he was a salesman at a car dealership in Manchester. Altogether they lived comfortably and were quite content. This was Aunt Betsy's first visit to the United States; she talked about how big it was and how difficult it was to get through immigration in Chicago. She intended to stay a week and hoped to get to know Dan better.
Dan told her how much he still loved soccer and how he was on the varsity team at Park. He related the circumstances of the accident and the continuing recovery. He did not tell her about losing Lisa, about whom Betsy knew nothing, nor the HIV test nor his dad. In fact, he was hoping his dad would skip the funeral. Anyway, Betsy didn't ask and he didn't volunteer any information.
At twenty to ten, Bishop Parker was back with Jesse. They reported the chapel had been prepared and the casket had been put in place. They confirmed to Betsy—more for Dan's benefit really—that the top half of the casket would be open. The doors to the Relief Society room were then closed and the bishop proposed a family prayer. He asked Betsy if she had any preferences as to who should offer the prayer. She looked briefly at Dan, who shook his head slightly. She then asked Bishop Parker to offer the prayer on behalf of the family.
They all bowed their heads and closed their eyes. Dan folded his arms like he always did when someone prayed in a meeting. Bishop Parker stood. Dan thought it was a beautiful prayer, full of eloquence and spirit. His composure melted. He felt Aunt Betsy's hand reach for his, and in response he unfolded his arms and took her hand, his eyes still closed. Her hand felt odd. It was small and delicate, with a vigorous strength. He gripped it tightly. She was the only family he had.
He wished he could pray that way. The roof melted away and angels watched—he was sure of it. He was transported back to England and heard his mother and father laugh. He saw them cheer him on the soccer field. There was their little house with its lovely garden and flowers. He felt the wonderful, warm feeling return; it swept over him and filled him and lifted him up. Why did this come when the bishop prayed and not when he prayed? What was the secret? Did the bishop have special prayer training? How could he get that training?
When the bishop finished Dan opened his eyes. He was embarrassed that Aunt Betsy offered him her handkerchief but he took it anyway. He smiled weakly. He heard Aunt Betsy thank the bishop, and then they were on their feet.