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)
The Court of Review
Phillip eased into the Primary room. There, sitting behind a table, were Lance and the assistant Scoutmaster, Brother Richard Dean. Phillip trembled as he approached the table. There was a chair waiting for him. Brother Dean was smiling but Lance wasn’t.
"Hi, Phillip, have a seat," said Brother Dean, sounding chipper. Phillip sat on the edge of the metal folding chair and stuck his hands under his thighs. He rocked slightly back and forth; the moment of reckoning was here.
"You know the purpose of the Board of Review," continued Brother Dean. "We just want to go over your records with you and look at the goals you set for yourself last time."
"Uh, I think last time you guys set the goals for me."
Brother Dean’s smile flickered momentarily; he forced a small laugh. Lance, however, glared and started to turn red.
Brother Dean continued. "Let’s see. You’re a Star Scout. You have one merit badge toward Life Scout, but it’s a good one because it also counts for Eagle…"
"Do they have any computer merit badges yet?" interrupted Phillip.
Brother Dean’s smile faded. "Uh, I think we covered this last time, Phillip. You’ve already done the radio merit badge and the electronics merit badge. But there’s no computer merit badge as such. Now you could do this one on forestry…"
"But I have no interest in forestry. How about track?"
Phillip’s voice was growing from its initial hushed whisper to something more assertive. Brother Dean’s smile was gone. Lance fidgeted with his pencil and shifted his weight continually but didn’t say anything.
"Well, there’s a sports merit badge. You could use track for one of the sports, but you would also have to participate in another sport, too."
"I just run track, that’s all. For Park. I’m actually pretty good at the 3200-meter…"
"Phillip," said his father in his most controlled voice. "The point of the merit badge program is to expose you to many facets of life…"
Phillip tried to be equally controlled but didn’t succeed. "I don’t want to be exposed to many facets of life. I want to do computers and run track. What’s wrong with that? Do they have a merit badge for starting a web site?"
Lance leaned forward, both arms out in front of him, palms down on the table. Phillip flung himself back in his chair, defiance written on every feature. Brother Dean was flustered. The interview had gone bad very quickly.
"Phillip," said Brother Dean. "Now as you know, scouting isn’t for everyone." Lance turned sharply to glare at Brother Dean. "But," he continued, "the Brethren have said that we use scouting as our activity program for young men." Lance turned sharply back toward Phillip as though that settled the matter. "We simply would like you to continue to participate at your own rate, with the hope that you might find some things of interest to you." Lance turned back again to stare at Brother Dean. Phillip assumed a less defiant posture. Brother Dean was giving him a way out.
"So you’re saying," said Phillip, sitting upright, "maybe I could just look into this sports merit badge as my goal for next time."
"Phillip!" exploded Lance. "You’ve got to do more than look into it! And you’ve got to do more than one. You’re a Star Scout. You need to get your Life Scout. Heavens! You’re nearly 16 and need to get your Eagle by the time you’re 18! You’ve got lots to do!"
Phillip was instantly on his feet. "I don’t want to do any kind of scouting! I don’t want to get Life or Eagle or anything. You’re pushing me! I just want to quit this whole charade, ok? I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN SCOUTS, OK!"
Lance was instantly on his feet, too, knocking his clipboard off the table and nearly bowling over Brother Dean. But before he could open his mouth, the door opened.