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)
Margo Has Something To Say
"Why’d you tell him the business is doing better? It’s not." He looked up from Richard’s latest e-mail.
"Lance, I’m just trying to be positive. There’s no need for him to worry."
"What happens if the business fails? What do we tell him then?"
"Honey, look. I have confidence that whatever happens, you’ll do fine."
"I wish I shared your confidence. I talked with Bill Banks again today. We’re down to two week’s reserve."
"Did you place those ads, honey? You promised me."
"Yes, I placed the ads. They come out tomorrow. Waste of money."
"Honey, you said you’d give it a try. What happened to the lead on office furniture leasing?"
Lance sat down across the kitchen table from Margo. He picked up one of her chocolate chip cookies and bit into it. "Well, there’s good news and bad news there. I ran a credit check on the guy and it looks fine. Everything’s in place except for the money to do it. Our line of credit’s been placed on hold. So it’ll probably fall through because I can’t raise the capital." He hung his head. "We’re in free-fall. I should just cut my losses now."
"Honey, if it looks like a good business deal, there must be a way. Didn’t Bill have any ideas?"
Lance stared at the wall. He fiddled with his cookie; it broke. He put it down. "Yeah, he had an idea."
"Well, will it work?"
Lance hesitated. "He says I could get some capital by mortgaging the house."
"Honey!"
"I know. The house is paid for. We said we’d never owe another dime in our life."
"But what happens if the deal falls through?"
"Then I’m stuck with a bunch of modular office furniture. And we have a mortgage I can’t pay."
"What else is there to do?"
"I could close up the business and get a real job."
Margo sighed. Lance looked listlessly at the floor. He nervously took another bite.
"How are we paying Martin’s medical bills?"
"We aren’t."
"Honey! How can that be? We have insurance!"
"Well, yeah, they pay their part. But we have to come up with a couple thousand dollars more. I just don’t have it. I’ve been talking with the hospital and the surgeon about some relief. Bill says he’ll audit the charges to see if maybe they’re overcharging."
They lapsed into silence. Margo reached for Lance’s hand.
"How much would you have to borrow to close the leasing deal?"
"Twenty thousand dollars."
"Honey, pray about it. If you feel it’s the right thing to do, then go ahead."
Lance took her hand in his. "Margo, you’re a sweet wife. How you put up with me I’ll never know. You know…" his voice trailed off.
She looked at him expectantly. "What, honey?"
He withdrew his hands and went back to the half-eaten cookie. "I’ve been thinking about Uncle Bill lately." He paused. "He told me there would be tough times in life. I had no idea…"
"Honey, we’ll get through this."