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)
Facing Dad
Phillip crept into the dining room. His father was sitting alone at the table and had a yellow legal tablet and several sheets of paper spread before him. He was punching numbers into a calculator. Phillip stifled an urge to tell his father about Microsoft Excel.
"Uh, Dad?"
Lance looked up to glare at his son. He didn’t speak.
"I got into Regionals today," continued Phillip.
"Yes, I know. Where were you at dinner?"
"I ate at Grant’s. There wasn’t much time after the meet. I went to Young Men’s with him," stammered Phillip. Lance continued to glare. "I called and told mom," he finished weakly.
"And where were you after Young Men’s?"
"I went home with Grant. Didn’t Martin tell you?"
Lance continued to glare but said nothing.
Phillip shifted and squirmed. "Uh, sorry to disturb you. I just thought you might like to know about Regionals." He turned to go.
"Are you getting your homework done between work and track?" demanded Lance.
Phillip turned around. "Sorta. You know…"
"You’ve got to keep your homework up."
Phillip faced his dad squarely. "Richard spent a lot more time on football than I do on…"
"Richard kept his grades up." Lance glared again.
Phillip swallowed. He didn’t want an argument. He squirmed.
"I’ve been adding some figures," said Lance while looking down at the pad in front of him. "The insurance company called today. They’re totaling the Taurus. They’re offering me seven thousand dollars less than I paid for it just six months ago because they say the Taurus is now a used car. And the hospital called. They want money. They estimate my deductible will be about three thousand dollars." He looked up at Phillip and glared again. He paused for emphasis. "If my arithmetic is right, and I think it is, that was a ten thousand dollar accident."
Phillip saw the cold anger in his father’s eyes. He looked at his feet—the same feet that qualified him for Regionals five hours earlier. The good feelings from the meet—reinforced by Dan and others at Young Men’s—evaporated with each of the grandfather clock’s ten chimes. Phillip looked up to search his father’s hard eyes. He studied his father’s face, hoping for any sign of forgiveness or any chance to make amends. He found none. He looked at his feet again.
Phillip took a breath and looked up again. For a brief second he saw Matthew there, hurling insult after insult. Matthew had hit him too. He didn’t seek approval from Matthew. Maybe he didn’t need it from his dad either. Phillip narrowed his eyes. Ok, if this is the game, two can play.
He broke his stare and abruptly left the room.