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.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
(About Phillip Home) (Last) (Next)
Luke and Matthew
"Sorry Phillip, got carried away. You all right?"
"Uh, no problem. I’m fine."
"Good! Can’t have you do poorly today. We’re counting on you."
"No, really, I’m fine."
"You’re Phillip, right? Everyone knows you ‘cause you’re the 3200 phenom. Keep it up!"
Phillip turned red. "Uh, thanks," he stammered. "This is Grant."
Luke looked awkwardly at Grant, murmured something that was indecipherable in the noise, then excused himself.
"Y’know," said Grant, "you wouldn’t get run into if you were taller. No one can see you."
"Yeah," agreed Phillip. "Anyway, the church says…"
BLAM! Phillip was on the ground again, thrown hard against Luke’s legs. Phillip looked up to see Matthew standing over him. Luke turned around to see what the commotion was about.
Matthew faked innocence. "So sorry, Phillip, I didn’t see you there." He didn’t offer to help Phillip up.
"Yeah, right," said Phillip as Luke helped him to his feet for the second time in less than a minute. "Y’know, Matthew," continued Phillip heatedly. "I gotta compete in twenty minutes. We’re supposed to be on the same side y’know." He rubbed his rib where it hit Luke’s foot. He pulled up his jersey to look for a bruise.
Matthew dropped his pretense of innocence. "I can’t believe you’re on the team. Are you doing this on a dare or something?"
"Matthew," growled Luke. It was a warning. The edge in Luke’s voice reminded Phillip of his father.
Phillip snapped his jersey back down. "Unlike you," said Phillip. "I don’t come just to watch."
"Matthew," continued Luke in the same steely voice. "This is not the way the Bible teaches us to act toward non-believers. Leave Phillip alone. He’s a valuable member of the track team and I want him to do well today. Do you understand?" He was angry. "This is not our plan," he said evenly.
Phillip and Grant stared goggle-eyed.
Matthew’s face fell. "Sorry," he muttered. He pushed past Phillip to be part of Luke’s multi-hued knot.
Phillip stopped rubbing his sore rib and grabbed Grant. He steered him out of Luke and Matthew’s earshot.
"Didja hear that?" Phillip said breathlessly. "That idiot Matthew! He did that on purpose."
"Not our plan!" ranted Grant.
"Non-believers!" joined Phillip.
"So that’s why they were together in the photo," said Grant. "I wonder how many there are?"
Phillip went back to rubbing his rib while he and Grant looked at Luke. Matthew and Luke were laughing. Three other Parkies, two Boulderites and one from Fairview were part of the group; all seemed pleased. Luke glanced over in Phillip’s direction once; Phillip hastily averted his gaze.
"None of them do the long runs," reported Phillip.
"Good thing," said Grant. "Might not be safe for you."
Phillip looked at the group again. Matthew was staring at them; Phillip didn’t avert his gaze this time. "Why don’t you keep an eye on Matthew during the meet," said Phillip to Grant. "Is there any way you can get a picture of everyone in that group? We can identify them from the team roster. The Boulder guys too."
"Don’t worry," said Grant. "I’m on it."