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 Hymnal
Phillip quickly thumbed to Hymn 113, "Our Savior’s Love." He held the book for Matthew to share; Matthew took it uncertainly. Phillip sang quietly, his long-ago piano training helping him find the notes. Matthew puzzled over the words; it was a song he’d never seen before. Matthew held onto the hymnbook after the song was over. He watched Phillip closely as the congregation hushed for the benediction, but Phillip didn’t kneel, nor did anyone else. Phillip folded his arms and closed his eyes. Matthew did likewise.
Bishop Parker stood at the pulpit again. "Brothers and Sisters, I have a few items of ward business. We extend a release to Lance Maceda as Scoutmaster after several years of faithful service." Phillip looked up in sharp surprise. He stared across Matthew at Martin, who was equally surprised. "All those," continued the bishop, "who can offer a vote of thanks please do so by the uplifted right hand."
Automatically, Phillip and Martin raised their hands. Tentatively, Matthew did likewise. Phillip whispered to Matthew, "You don’t have to vote. You’re not a member."
"Oh." Matthew was puzzled. "Do you guys vote on everything?"
"Lance, could you stand," said the bishop. Phillip and Martin turned to stare. "We have called Lance Maceda to be the Blazer leader in Primary. This moves Lance from Scouts to Cub Scouts. All those in favor manifest it." Everyone in the congregation raised their hands. "All opposed." No one raised their hand.
"Doesn’t anyone ever vote against anything?" whispered Matthew.
"I guess it can happen. I’ve never seen it."
"Oh."
The bishop continued. "We will now prepare for the sacrament by singing hymn number 181, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King.’ The Aaronic Priesthood will bless and pass the sacrament." The bishop sat down as the organist began to play the introduction to the hymn.
Phillip and Matthew shared the hymnbook. Matthew watched the two young priests at the table in front of the stand on the right side of the chapel. They stood as the congregation began to sing; they unfolded a large lace cloth that covered the bread and water. They began to break the bread into tiny pieces which they put into white plastic trays.
"That’s Dan Cook! I don’t know the other guy. They can do that?" whispered Matthew, thoroughly puzzled.
"Yeah, the other guy’s Jason. It’s my turn the first Sunday in June."
"You?" Matthew was incredulous.
"Yeah, me. What’s wrong with that? I’m a priest, too."
"Oh." Matthew went back to studying the words of the hymn.
When the hymn was finished, Dan knelt behind the sacrament table and adjusted the microphone. He offered the prayer in a clear cadence. Matthew bent to ask Phillip a question but Phillip was sitting still; his eyes closed. Matthew did the same.
As soon as the ‘amen’ was echoed by the congregation, younger boys stood to accept trays to take to the congregation. Matthew urgently but quietly whispered to Phillip. "Do I have to eat it?"
"No," whispered Phillip. "But you can if you want."
Matthew considered this. He swiveled his head back toward where his father sat. He bent to study the hymnbook. He flipped idly through its pages.
"You don’t use the word ‘God’ much," he whispered.
"No, we usually say Heavenly Father or Lord or Savior or things like that."
"Here’s one." He pointed to Hymn 187, "God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son."
"Yep."
"Oh."