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 Unwanted Opportunity
"Not now, Dad! Not today!" protested Phillip.
Phillip, Lance and Martin stood beside the Taurus. Margo and Carmen were still coming down the walkway from the church. Margo was holding the oxygen bottle and fussing over Carmen’s walker.
"Why not, son?" continued Lance. "It’s a beautiful day and it’s only a couple miles home. You can show Grams how you can drive."
The Taurus was in a handicapped space by the front door, courtesy of Carmen’s inability to walk any meaningful distance. Dan and Melanie were already on their way home. Carmen was almost to the car.
Martin piped up. "Dad, are you sure you want to let Grams see how Phillip drives? She might have a heart attack."
"Gee thanks, Martin," said Phillip.
"You’ll do fine, son."
"I don’t want to. I’m not going to," insisted Phillip.
"Honey, I’ll sit in the front with you," suggested Margo helpfully.
Lance looked at his wife for a long second before agreeing. "Then I’ll sit behind you. That way I won’t make you nervous."
"I don’t wanna sit in the middle again!" piped Martin.
"I’m not sitting in the middle either!" said Carmen, her foghorn voice booming across the parking lot. "And if you sit behind him, Lance, you’ll make him nervous. You take the middle!"
Phillip slumped. There was nothing he could do. "Oh, all right," he muttered. He took the keys from his father. He held open the driver’s side rear door for Carmen while Margo helped her in. Lance got into the middle of the back seat from the other side. Martin jumped in beside him. Margo closed her mother’s door and came to sit next to Phillip. Martin closed his door the same time Margo closed hers.
"Dad you’re too big! There’s no room," said Martin.
"The door closed on my oxygen tube," said Carmen.
"Can it wait until we get home?" asked Lance. He fumed at the indignity of sitting in the most uncomfortable seat of his own car.
"I didn’t bring the oxygen bottle just to look at it!"
"I’ll get it," said Phillip. He jumped out, rescued the cord and eased himself back into the driver’s seat.
"Honey, you know what to do, right?" asked Margo.
"Yes, mom."
"Ok, I won’t say anything then."
"Maybe you better," piped Martin.
"Leave him be!" commanded Carmen.
"Put on your seat belt, Martin," said Lance. "And stop playing with it."
Phillip eased the car back and pulled to the parking lot exit.
"You’re doing fine, honey," said Margo. They sat there for nearly a minute.
"Phillip, you’ve had several opportunities to pull out. We’ll be here all day," said Lance.
"You’re making me nervous, Dad."
"Leave him be!" commanded Carmen.
Phillip picked a break in traffic and turned left. He hit the gas too hard and the tires squealed. Margo sucked in her breath.
"Phillip, that was awesome. Do it again," piped Martin.