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)
Matthew Follows Phillip and Melanie
"What was all that about?" she asked. She looked bemused at his flustered appearance.
Phillip stooped to pick up the book again. He grabbed his glasses as they started to slip off his face.
"Oh, hi," he said. "We’d better hurry or Hartman’ll count us both late."
"We’ve got a couple minutes yet," she said easily. She put her hand out as though to grab Phillip’s, but he had both hands full—one with the extra book and the other with the backpack, which he had yet to actually get over his shoulder. He didn’t notice her hand.
"I just had to talk with Dan. He’s going to ordain me on Sunday. It’s a church thing."
"Ooh, sounds like something special."
"Well, I guess it is," said Phillip offhandedly. "It’s happening because I turn sixteen tomorrow."
"Are you having a birthday party?" she asked.
Phillip stopped. He hadn’t thought of this. He looked at her, swung the backpack up over one shoulder and stared at her. "Uh," he stammered, "No. Just a family dinner. Grant’s coming. You wanna come too?"
"Sure. What time?"
"After work tomorrow. We get off at six." They walked down the nearly-empty hall into their English class. Matthew tagged behind them. Everyone else was in their seats.
"False doctrine, Phillip," whispered Matthew as they took their seats. "Your whole priesthood concept is totally bogus. Haven’t you figured that out?"
Phillip rounded on Matthew. "Look, Matthew. I show tolerance for your religion, whatever it is. Maybe you could show some tolerance for mine?"
Matthew wavered as though searching for the right place in the script. "That doesn’t make you any less wrong," he said after a several second pause, but his words lacked conviction.
Mrs. Hartman came into the room and walked toward the front. Melanie leaned over to Phillip. "Can I come?" she whispered.
"I just said you can come." replied Phillip, surprised. He opened his backpack to retrieve his English notebook.
"No, I mean to the ordination."
"It’s just a church thing. I don’t think you’d find it very interesting," he said.
She looked disappointed, but before she could say anything, Mrs. Hartman began her lecture.
"Now you’ve all heard about the school’s tolerance campaign," she began. Phillip turned to look at Matthew. "The school administration has asked us to work this into our curriculum. So, your next essay assignment is to discuss an example of tolerance—or intolerance—in the history of some group with which you’re affiliated or have some connection." She didn’t look pleased. "It’s due a week from today. Now, moving onto our current assignment…"
Phillip glanced at Matthew again. Matthew was smiling and staring back.