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)
Advice about Fathers
Bishop Parker relaxed and gave a little laugh. He leaned back in his chair.
"Not necessarily, Phillip. Now, I’ve watched you and your dad. He’s a good man. I know you two don’t always see eye to eye. And some arguments are a normal part of life."
Phillip was starting to perk up. "But it’s like he just doesn’t understand me. Or accept me. Why can’t he just see me the way I am instead of lecturing me all the time and getting on my case and wanting me to be something different from…"
Bishop Parker was startled by his outburst. "Now, Phillip. Hold on! Are your arguments violent?" He looked concerned.
"No, no," Phillip hastened to reply. "But it seems like we’re just, you know, oil and water or maybe flint and steel. I mean, we can hardly say ‘good morning’ to each other without starting to yell and scream."
Bishop Parker leaned back and tapped his left palm with a pen and stared at the painting of the Denver Temple on the wall. "So you don’t think he understands you."
"He doesn’t."
"That would explain it."
"What?"
But the bishop ignored his question and continued. "Do you understand him?"
"I think so, what do you mean?"
"I mean, when you argue, can you truly understand where he’s coming from?"
"Yeah, he wants me to be all these things I’m not, like a football quarterback like Richard or a big academic star like Martin or something like that." His voice became small. "I’m just in the middle of the pack."
"That’s not what I hear about your track times at Park."
Phillip looked up. "That’s different. I mean, I don’t feel like a jock. Really, I’m just a computer geek who works at a pet store and doesn’t have a fancy girlfriend. I just want to be me."
"Hmmm…maybe you’re already just being you. What’s wrong with that?"
"It’s sure not what Dad wants!"
"Why do you think that?"
"I mean, isn’t it obvious?" Phillip exploded. "He’s always telling me all these things about…"
Bishop Parker waved an arm lazily as though brushing off Phillips words. He sat back in his chair and staring at the acoustic tiles on the ceiling. "Sounds like he’s being a parent. All parents do that."
Phillip sat silently, wondering if he’d gone too far.
The bishop continued. "Look, Phillip, you and your dad are very different people. But you’re going to have to come to terms with him before…"
Phillip sat up and blurted out, "He has to come to terms with me, too!"
"Yes, yes, that too. But, anyway, it explains why your father talked with me before this interview. He suggested you might be more comfortable having Dan Cook do your ordination. He says you’re pretty close to Dan."
"Dan? Dad doesn’t want to do it? He did Richard, didn’t he?"
"It’s your choice. You can have any of the priests do it, or really pretty much anyone of your choosing, like Brother Sam."
"I really don’t know Dan very well," said Phillip quietly.
"Don’t you home teach Dan?"
"Uh, yeah. But I’ve only been there a couple times and anyway, you know, Dan’s this big deal jock and I’m not really comfortable around him."
"Didn’t Dan get you into track?" asked Bishop Parker, now looking directly at Phillip.
Phillip grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, more like tricked me into it." He smiled at the memory. "He came to my first track meet too, in March."
"Well, there you go."
"Can I think about it?"
"Your birthday’s on Wednesday, right? So we can ordain you next Sunday. You have until then. And, by the way, let me be the first to say happy birthday!" He held out his hand.
Phillip rose to accept Bishop Parker’s handshake. The interview was over.