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 Tense Meeting with Dad
Dan circulated around the tables, all spread with white linen table cloths and plastic forks and paper plates, shaking hands and thanking people for coming. Cheryl insisted on hugging him. He tried to laugh but a pent-up sob sprang its surprise, so Cheryl hugged him again.
Coach Johnson gave him as much of a hug as a coach might and kidded him on skipping so much school. Others vaguely offered to help "if you need anything." Dan finished by making the rounds of his fellow soccer players. He finally made it to the food line and piled his plate with ham and "funeral potatoes," the fancy version of potatoes au gratin reserved by the Relief Society sisters for solemn feasts.
He looked for a table. One was completely taken by the soccer team. At another, Aunt Betsy was firmly wedged between Marilyn and Sister Jones. Sister Parker and Lisa were there too, so he moved on. He found a table with some Laurels-aged girls—girls his age. He leaned his cane against the table and sat down.
"Hi, your name's Jerri, isn't it?" asked Dan of the girl on his left. He thought she looked more practical than Lisa, not so "in love." Maybe it was her understated makeup. Her hair was a cinnamon brown, the same as a cat he had years earlier, back in Manchester, before he left for the States. He remembered his mother telling him the cat couldn’t go with them. He’d loved that cat. He hadn’t thought of it in years.
She looked at him curiously. "Yes. I moved here a month ago. I'm sorry about your mother."
"Thanks. Been a really weird month," he replied.
"I didn't know you were born in England. So that’s why the accent. It's very cool…" She didn’t get to finish.
"Hi, Dan." To his horror, his father sat down on his right, taking the one remaining seat at the table. "I'm sorry about your mother."
Dan turned toward his father, his eyes full of contempt. As quietly as he could, so as not to make a scene, he spoke.
"What are you doing here." A statement.
Ed bit his lip. "Dan, most of these people never knew your mother. They're here for you. So am I."
"How can you say that after Wednesday night."
"Didn't you get my e-mails?"
"I deleted them. I don't want to hear from you."
Ed bowed his head again. Then he looked straight into Dan's angry eyes. "I'd like a chance to explain."
Dan replied immediately. "There's nothing to explain."
"You're right about some things but wrong about others. Let me tell you the rest. Then make your decision."
"I'll think about it. But I'm not in any hurry."
"May I send you one more e-mail?"
The pleading was not in his father’s voice. It was in the eyes. Dan ignored it.
"It's time for you to leave," said Dan.
"Remember, Dan, I'm still your father. Your mother's gone. You need to think about that."
Ed broke eye contact, pushed back his chair and walked toward the door. Dan's blazing eyes were boring holes in his father’s back. Bishop Parker, who'd been watching the entire exchange, intercepted Ed at the door. It was impossible for Ed to ignore the outstretched hand, particularly since the bishop blocked the doorway while offering it. Ed shook it, but motioned the bishop to follow him out the door.
"Wow, what was that?" asked Jerri.