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)
The Interview
Bishop Parker leaned back in his chair and smiled at Phillip.
"You’re a fine young man, Phillip, I’m proud of you! You’re keeping the commandments and living up to your beliefs."
Phillip didn’t know what to say; he stammered a "thanks." He looked around the familiar room, tucked away in the corner of the sprawling Mormon meetinghouse. The walls were cinderblock, painted vaguely beige. Sturdy industrial carpet covered the floor. A thick oak strip made a circle around the room just at the height where chairs bang on the wall; there were about twenty simple wood chairs in the large office. A large fake-fichus plant inhabited one corner; another corner was taken up by a very small table with a telephone on it. Bishop Parker sat behind the plain, unadorned wood desk. Phillip thought there was no way the simple desk could have passed through his father’s store.
Bishop Parker and Phillip were alone. Phillip had been in this room many times, of course, but still it scared him. Bishop Parker was definitely an authority figure, and authority figures frightened him.
"Uh, Bishop, will I have to bless the sacrament now?"
"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No! I mean, no. Uh. Well, it’s just that…"
"I know it’s frightening, Phillip, but everyone has that feeling when they start something new. You’ll soon do it like a pro."
"I wish I felt so sure." Phillip frowned and hesitated. "Bishop," he began, and then his voice trailed off.
Bishop Parker simply leaned forward.
"There’s this kid at school. His name’s Matthew. He and several other people at his church have decided they want to…to…to convert me to their church. They think Mormons aren’t Christians and Matthew’s always badgering me and anyway how do I get them to stop?"
"Have you tried asking them?"
"Matthew’s a bully. I’ve told him a bunch of times. He just keeps harping on it and quoting all these scriptures and telling me I’m going to hell."
"How do you respond?"
"Well, I got pretty mad at him on Friday. I told him if his Jesus told him to persecute people, then I wanted no part of it."
"That’s a bold statement. How’d he react?"
"He didn’t say anything ‘cause I walked away. But I suspect he’ll be after me tomorrow at school."
"You’re probably right. These people thrive on contention. Phillip, the Lord counsels us to avoid conflict."
"But how do I get him to stop?"
"Have you tried to be his friend?"
"Ha!" spat Phillip. "I told you he was a bully. He hits me! He’s a lot bigger than I am. He’s hated me since the eighth grade!"
Bishop Parker’s silence made Phillip uncomfortable.
"So what should I do?" Phillip ventured.
The bishop leaned forward. "Phillip, you need to take the matter to the Lord. Make sure your testimony is strong and you’ll be able to withstand his attacks. But remember that as a priesthood holder, your job is to teach the gospel of peace. Sometimes this means we endure persecution."
Phillip sat back. "I don’t like that."
"Phillip, everyone has their agency. You can’t force Matthew to do anything. Even the Lord himself was terribly persecuted when he walked the earth, and he was perfect. I’m afraid you’ll just have to call on Heavenly Father for some help in this case. And please don’t give up on Matthew. If he’s really a bully, then you should know that bullies are inwardly insecure. You may have something for him that he desperately needs."
"Yeah, a punching bag." But Phillip knew he’d exhausted his line of reasoning. He changed the subject. "Bishop, now that I’m gonna be sixteen, do I really have to learn how to drive?"
Bishop Parker was puzzled. "No, of course not. Lots of kids these days delay driving until age eighteen or even later. Why?"
Phillip mustered his courage. "Do all kids my age argue with their fathers?"