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)
Trashed!
"Yeah, Richard noticed it when he checked my site," said Phillip glumly. He was seated at the computer in Grant’s room. He handed the printout of Richard’s note to Grant. Grant was peering over Phillip’s shoulder at the ugly picture on the screen.
"What time did Richard send the note?" asked Grant.
"The time stamp doesn’t show up on the printout," said Phillip. "Here, read the note. Maybe you can figure out what time he sent it. I think it was sometime around lunch his time in St. Petersburg. That would put it way early in the morning here."
Hey Little Brother Phillip,
Somebody’s really whacked your website. Was it ok when you last looked at it? I checked for the picture of your trophy and all there is on your site is really ugly stuff about the church. All your track pictures are gone. Your home page has a picture of a raving lunatic shouting about Mormons and all the links are to nasty anti-Mormon websites. There’s a section attacking you--it has to have been written by someone who knows you or at least knows about you. You need better security on your site. Anyway, I’ll look at your site next week. We usually go to the internet café after lunch.
"After lunch can mean anything," said Grant. "So that means someone took everything over after you checked it and before he looked at it —and you said you checked it just before you e-mailed him, right?"
"Yeah, they did it in the middle of the night." Phillip studied the hacked home page. "Richard’s right, whoever did this knows all about me."
"That’s pretty scary."
"Here’s what it says: ‘Hey satanic brothers out there. Gotta dark moment? I ain’t got no time for no Christ, ‘cause I’m a morman. And I’m a big deal, see? I can run like hell, just like the place I’m going to but I don’t care.’ This stuff is sick. They can’t even spell ‘Mormon.’ And did you see this?" Phillip clicked on the crazy picture. "Here’s a picture of me holding up the trophy, except someone’s changed the trophy to be a devil. And they gave me a tail. The tail’s kinda cool, actually."
"Who would’ve done it?"
"Three guesses. No. One guess."
"Matthew?" asked Grant.
"Who else? He comes to church yesterday and acts all interested and then goes home and does this."
"I dunno," said Grant. He studied Richard’s note again. "Matthew’s a bully but I don’t think he’s very bright. Someone had to do all the HTML and break through security. And that picture’s pretty well done. I don’t think Matthew knows PhotoShop."
"He had to be part of it, though. Here, read this." He pointed to the screen. "My church doesn’t even have a picture of Christ inside. Just blank walls. We don’t want to be reminded of anything having to do with heaven." Phillip sighed. "Matthew would’ve known that. None of the others would."
"How was Matthew at school today?"
"Dunno. He avoided me. Wouldn’t even look at me."
Grant looked at the note. "Can I read the rest of this?"
"Sure, why not."
Congratulations on your trophy! It’s about time my little brother started to get some recognition. I sent a note to Mom to take down all my trophies from the top of the cabinet in the dining room so she can start your collection. After all, I’m out of high school and haven’t gotten any (yet!!) from college, so why not let my little brother have the space? Oh...maybe when Martin gets his arm out of the cast, you can put the cast up there, too.
"So, are you going to have Martin’s cast bronzed?" asked Grant.
Phillip grunted.
Bishop Parker is right--you need to figure out a way to move back in. I know Dad’s a pain to get along with, but he’s a good man with a good heart and there’s no point in carrying a long-term grudge. But...don’t go back until you feel right about it. You need to pray about this and get an answer.
"No pressure," said Grant.
"None at all," replied Phillip.
I’m glad to hear you’re doing your missionary work with Matthew. He’ll need your support to follow up on the good spirit he felt at Sacrament meeting.
"I bet you really feel like following up with Matthew," asked Grant.
"Yeah, I’d like to follow up all right," said Phillip, his jaw set.
"What’s this about?" asked Grant, returning to the note.