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)
Music in the Heart
"We?"
"Yes, we. I thought what you did was beautiful. We'll do it together."
"No, Dan, I was just doing that for fun. Well, ok, because I needed to."
"I won't take no for an answer." He reached for her hand. "You must!"
She looked down at her violin and then at her hand in Dan's. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Go ahead, Jerri," said her dad. "Would be good for you."
"I don't know, dad. It’ll be hard."
"Then all the more reason."
Dan looked back and forth between them, puzzled. He looked down at Jerri's hand and then up into her eyes. "I don't want to force you, but I'd really like it."
There was a faraway look in her eyes. Dan wasn't sure, but it looked like she was thinking of something that might make her cry. But before he could speak again, she replied.
"Yes, Dan, I'd love to," she said quietly. Then, with increased resolve, she spoke quickly. "Shall we try it again?"
"Yeah, sure."
She rose, violin in hand. He started to play again. She did her part differently this time. It seemed more fitting for the music, as though she were experimenting and trying to home in on just the right sound. After they were done, she asked for another try. Dan was watching her to see just what it was in the lyrics she might be reacting to, but it was hard to read her expression. Anyway, she kept waving her head around while playing, and half the time her eyes were closed.
When they were done, she wandered over to the window. As she stared out at the falling snow, she absentmindedly plucked at her violin. After spending enough time there to make Dan uncomfortable, she gathered herself together and turned back toward Dan. She smiled at him, a different smile, he thought. Warm. His stomach churned.
"Thanks, Dan," she said. "I really enjoyed that. Music has a way of getting into even the hardest of hearts."
Dan was puzzled again. He yielded the guitar to her. She carried the guitar and the violin down the hallway out of sight. While she was out of the room, Dan turned toward Brother Smith.
"I don't understand," he said.
Brother Smith merely shook his head and smiled.
"I don't either."
Jerri came back and sat down next to Dan, but before she could make herself comfortable, the stove buzzer went off. She jumped back up and headed into the kitchen.
Brother Smith worked his way out of the recliner and followed Jerri. Dan carefully stowed the lyrics back in his wallet. The kitchen, like the rest of the house, was smaller than Dan's, but some previous owner had tired of this and put an extension on the back of the house to create a small dining area with windows on three sides. Dan could see the neatly kept back yard. He suspected there would be flowers in the spring.
Brother Smith set the table. Dan jumped in to help as Jerri busied herself at the stove. At dinner, the conversation turned to small talk about Jerri's old high school, the orchestra at Park, Dan's plans for soccer, Brother Smith's job at the university and some gossip about church. Dan and Brother Smith went to great pains to compliment Jerri on her casserole, which, although rather ordinary, was much better than anything Dan could come up with. The conversation was genial and fun, nearly as much as it was at the Fawkes. Dan was envious; he wished he had a father like Brother Smith. Someone who practiced his Mormonism.
When dinner was over, Brother Smith shooed Jerri and Dan out of the kitchen, saying he would clean up. As soon as they were in the living room he closed the kitchen door, saying he needed privacy in order to do the dishes right. Jerri laughed and told him he was a terrible tease.
Dan and Jerri sat together on the couch. "Thanks," she said.
"Uh, thanks for what, Jerri? You’re the one who made dinner."
"No, not for the food, for the song. I really needed that."
"Ok, I'll bite."