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 Can't I Get Answers?
"Dan, I've been praying a lot about my mom. Things were really awful before we left, but now that I've been here a few months, I find myself missing her, even though she treated me terribly."
"So how did the song help?"
"Well, I can't say exactly. But I felt peaceful when I played it. Sort of like the Lord was answering my prayers."
Dan was silent for a long moment, so long it was Jerri who broke the silence. "Dan, what's wrong?"
"Oh, it's just ironic, that's all. I can't make contact with the Lord, and now you say my song answered your prayers. It's just weird, you know?" He smiled wryly.
Jerri thought for a moment. "You know, Dan, I've been praying the Lord would send me something to calm me. Sort of like, well, like to help me understand that some relationships will never be whole, but it's ok to let go. When I heard the lyrics about how you parted from your mother with regret and the separation is now permanent, but now you can feel love for her, I had the strong impression my prayer was being answered." She reached to him and touched his hands, which he held together, his fingers crossed.
"I guess I really don't know what it's like to get an answer to prayer," he whispered. "You know, I went into this all pretty unprepared. First my knee, then my dad, then my mom. And it looks like I've lost so much time from school I'll be going to summer school. Every time I get myself back on my feet, something comes along to cut me down again. Like I don't have a clue where I'm going to live in a month."
"How do you know you aren't getting answers to your prayers?"
"Lots of people give me advice on how to tell. But everyone gives me different advice." He hung his head for a moment. "I've sort of given up trying," he confided.
She was astonished. "But why? I mean I got an answer to my prayers through you!"
He decided he didn't want to pursue this. "Ok, I suppose."
"No, Dan, really! Do you know how long I've been praying with this same question? Since last July!"
"You're very patient."
"Not really. It's been nagging at me. Making music with you today gave me a sense of peace I haven't felt in like I can't remember."
Dan forced a smile. "Jerri, that's really cool. I know the gnawing in the stomach, believe me. I hope I don't have to wait eight months for every answer."
She forced a laugh. "I hope not, too." She turned serious. "Can I be an answer to your prayers?"
"What do you mean?"
"I want to be there for you."
"What do you mean?"
"I want to be your strength and your friend and your confidant."
"What do you mean?"
"Dan!" She was exasperated. " You asked that same question three times in a row. Boys are just plain dense!"
Dan laughed. "Ok, ok! This is so heavy! Lighten up!"
"So it's a deal, then?"
"I still have no idea what you're talking about, but it's a deal, ok?"
"Oh, there's something I forgot to mention."
Dan rolled his eyes. "What?" he asked suspiciously.
"For the chorus, do you think we could add some more voices? I think it would be really nice if we had two more people sing it. One male, one female. What do you think?"
"I think you're taking over my song but I also think you're right."
She laughed. "Well, who could it be?"
"Let me think about it."