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 Phillip. Be sure to check out About Dan here.
Phillip is a computer nerd who suddenly discovers a liking for track. Everything would be fine except for his father.
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 Phillip Home) (Last) (Next)
Dan, the Big Deal Jock
This was the first time Dan had received his home teachers at Peter’s house. After Dan’s mother died, he’d lived in his mother’s house as caretaker until it was sold. Then he’d lived with his dad until he found out his dad wasn’t really his dad, at least biologically. His only real family was in England, so Dan moved in with his closest friend, Peter.
Phillip somehow expected that only Dan would be there when he and Brother Sam arrived. But Peter and both his parents, Jesse and Marilyn, were there, too. Peter and his parents were not Mormons and Phillip didn’t know what to expect. He hoped they wouldn’t be like Matthew.
"Ah, young Phillip! And you must be the famous Brother Sam! Come in, come in!" said Jesse as he opened the door. "Thanks so much to both of you for helping Dan move. I’m sorry I wasn’t here at the time—out of town. Please, please, sit down."
This wasn’t what Phillip expected but Brother Sam seemed to take it all in stride. Only Peter seemed uncomfortable, but it was the kind of discomfort that comes from doing something for the first time, not the discomfort that comes from dislike. They all settled in the living room.
Brother Sam started. "How long are you guys going to be able to tolerate Dan?"
Phillip was horrified that Brother Sam would ask such a question so soon after Dan had moved in, but everyone laughed, even Dan.
"I’m surprised they’ve tolerated me this long," said Dan, and everyone laughed again.
Phillip watched Dan’s easy laugh. He wondered why these big-time jocks could feel so comfortable with other people and he couldn’t.
Marilyn spoke up. "Seriously, you tell that bishop of yours that Dan can stay here as long as he likes. He’s a member of our family now. And if you need to send anyone else around from your church to keep Dan in line, please let them know they’re most welcome in our home."
Phillip thought Dan looked grateful. Phillip marveled at the air of easy informality that pervaded everything and everyone in the house. Why couldn’t he have that?
Peter spoke next. "Hey, Phillip, I hear you had another track meet. Tell Mom and Dad how you did."
Phillip was startled out of his reverie. "I came in second, I’m afraid."
"Yeah, but tell them the rest."
Phillip blushed. "I was behind a Skyline runner."
Jesse picked it right up. "So you were first for Park! That’s great!"
"Afraid so," he mumbled.
Dan spoke up. "Phillip beat three seniors and two juniors on the Park team!"
Jesse, Marilyn and Brother Sam all expressed their admiration.
Dan grew serious. "Phillip, did you get it all figured out whether your dad goes to your meets?"
Phillip turned as red as a Park letter jacket. He hung his head. "Uh, my mom came to the meet. Dad was…uh…busy."
"Did you like that?" pressed Dan.
"Yeah, it was fine. She gave me a big hug afterwards. I covered her in sweat. She said it would take a month to make the smell go away."
Jesse stumbled into it without thinking. "Phillip, it sounds like you didn’t want your father there for some reason. Is there something going on we can help with?"
Phillip shuddered, but Jesse didn’t look like he was about to lecture.
Peter jumped in. "Phillip has issues with his father."
Phillip gasped. How could Peter drag this out in front of the grown-ups?
"I mean," began Marilyn, "you’re not, well, in danger or anything are you?"
"No!" replied Phillip, horrified. "I mean, not physically. No! I mean not at all. We just get into big arguments. That’s all. Just normal stuff. Nobody’s throwing anything. We’re fine, I’m sure we are."
Marilyn didn’t look like she believed him. "You have that bishop of yours. You should talk with him. I don’t think big arguments are normal, Phillip." She glanced at Dan.
Brother Sam jumped in to rescue Phillip. "I’ll be sure he sees Bishop Parker." He put a hand on Phillip’s shoulder as a sign it was time to change the subject.
Brother Sam gave a short lesson on honoring parents. It was intended for Dan, perhaps to help him with issues surrounding his dad, or at least the man Dan had always thought was his dad. Phillip wondered if there was an ulterior motive. Brother Sam made Phillip participate at several points, asking for examples. Somehow Phillip always thought up responses that involved his mother or his grandmother. Then Marilyn brought out strawberry shortcake. ("I know it’s a little late in the season, but I froze these berries and we have to eat them.") Phillip ate self-consciously.
At the end of the visit, Brother Sam turned to Jesse and asked him who should say the closing prayer. Phillip figured he would get picked—he’d always been picked on home teaching visits before—but Jesse picked Dan. They all bowed their heads while he spoke.
"Heavenly Father, thank you for our home teachers. Please bless Phillip that he’ll run even faster. Also please bless him to get along with his father. He’s a good kid and needs to feel loved and appreciated. Please help us all to honor our parents in any way we can. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Phillip’s head was spinning as he stumbled out the door. It was all so public now.