[dc]T[/dc]he older I get, the more Dad shares stories with me about my upbringing and such. He likes to tell people his favorite parenting technique was Mr. Locked Closet. I’m fairly certain he is joking though, as I don’t think he would lock me in a closet so he could go to the corner bar–which was a strip club–to watch a Red Wings game.
No. He would take me with him to the strip club though. At least once anyway.
[[The outline of a dark closet door from the inside.]]
[[Dad, smoking, places Baby Daniel on the floor of the closet.]]
Dad: Son, I’mma head to the bar to watch the hockey game.
[[Baby Daniel stares up at Dad.]]
Dad: You play with Mr. Locked Closet, and imagine…
[[Dad thinks and smokes.]]
[[Dad looks down at Baby Daniel.]]
Dad: What it would be like if you were…purple.
[[Dad closes the closet door with a CLICK. Baby Daniel’s eye stares in the darkness.]]
[[Modern day, an extreme close-up of Daniel’s left eye.]]
[[Medium shot of Daniel, sitting on a panel at a convention, now an adult.]]
Audience member: Mr. Hogan?
Daniel: Huh?
Audience member: I asked, how do you get your ideas?
Daniel: Uh…
[[A closer shot of Daniel.]]
Daniel: I just…do.
Hovertext: There are 82 games in the NHL regular season. Not counting the playoffs.
Really he never did lock you in a closet-it was your dad’s version of fantasy babysitting! the strip club story sadly is true….
Maybe Dad and I should keep the tradition going.