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)
Confiding
Phillip softly closed the guest room door and looked around. It was the same size as Grant’s bedroom but the similarities stopped there; like the rest of the house it was as neat as a pin. It was Sister Haven’s hobby room; a sewing project was laid out on a table; Phillip was careful not to disturb it. The pictures on the walls were arranged to form a family tree. Phillip studied an imposing, bearded gentleman in the top photograph; he looked European and formal. The room held a double bed neatly made with lace pillowcases and a down comforter. Laid out for him on the bedstand were a toothbrush, toothpaste and a razor. He smiled at the razor; he had yet to shave.
He sat on the bed, untied his shoes and let them drop to the floor. He pulled off his tee-shirt and threw it on the floor. On second thought, he reached for the shirt and laid it over the back of the chair; after all, he’d be wearing it again the next day. He placed his pants over another chair. He pulled back the covers but just stared at the bed.
He looked around again to be sure he was alone. He closed the window; Grant’s window was next to his and he wanted to be sure no one heard. He sighed but decided to make an effort to pray. He dropped to his knees and rested his arms on the bed.
"Father in Heaven," he began. No thoughts came to his head. He sighed again.
"Father in Heaven," he began again. "I’m really sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done what I did but I just can’t stand going into that house again. Do you remember last Friday? Well, I guess you do ‘cause you remember everything, anyway, do you remember what the house looked like when I went home from Melanie’s? That’s when I made up my mind that I didn’t have to put up with it anymore. Do you know what I mean? Am I supposed to put up with anything? I just can’t.
"Dad’s not said anything positive to me since the accident. ‘Course, he doesn’t ever say anything positive to me anyway, but he’s been on my case every day since. He finally got around to telling me today that I had to pay for the accident, at least some of it, but I’d be like working all summer just to pay back the money he wants. And then he started calling me irresponsible again. I told him I never wanted to drive in the first place, but that just made him madder. He keeps using words like ‘accountability’ and ‘maturity’ but then he yells and that doesn’t seem accountable or mature to me.
"Father, I’m sorta breaking new ground here. Richard told me he left home once, but I guess it was all hushed up because I never knew about it and have no clue what happened. Maybe I should ask Richard. Yeah, I’ll do that.
"Did you see what happened just a few minutes ago? I s’pose you see everything. Anyway, the Haven’s had family prayer and they asked me to join them and I could tell that everyone here really loves each other. I guess I knew that, but I’ve never stayed here overnight before because Grant’s room is such a mess. Grant even hugged his dad. I wish I could do that. Y’know, I’ll die of shock the day Dad says he loves me.
"Father, I’d be less than honest if I didn’t tell you that I’m pretty scared right now. Y’know, I’ve been scared for a long time. Guess I never put a name on it before. I saw it on Martin’s face tonight. I think the bishop saw it too. I suppose you want me to be forgiving toward Dad. I don’t know if I can do that. Not when he frightens me so much. This is gonna be hard."