It was about half past 2 in the afternoon on Darren's birthday. Darren was feeling a little bored when he remembered the puppet show he was watching on TV earlier.
"Hey Dad, do you want to play a game with me?" asked Darren.
"Sorry, son, but I'm not too good with games!" replied Daniel, not wanting to hurt his son's feelings.
"But Dad, this game is simple!" said Darren. "I say a word, and you have to say the first thing you think of. Please play with me...PLEASE!"
"Oh all right!" said Daniel. "Who goes first?"
"I do," replied Darren. "First word - birthday."
"You!" replied Daniel.
"Presents?"
"Wrapping."
"Television?"
"News."
"Music?"
"Guitar."
"Darren?"
"Hayes!" Darren was in surprise.
"Who's Darren Hayes?" asked Darren.
"Darren Hayes was a very good friend of mine a long time back," answered Daniel. "We used to be in a band named Savage Garden. We were really famous back then..."
"Your father's telling the truth," continued Leonie, winking at Darren as if to convey a secret message. "Loads of people loved Savage Garden's music. In fact, Savage Garden held a world record for winning the most ARIAs in a year - 10 in 1997."
"Whoa! Amazing, Dad!" said Darren. "But how come there's no more Savage Garden?" Daniel was a bit apprehensive.
"Well...I met your mom, and we decided to start a family," replied Daniel. "I thought Darren would get a replacement for me...I guess he didn't!"
"Does Darren have a wife too?" asked the birthday boy. "Does he have any children?"
"He used to - now he's single," said Daniel. "He doesn't have any kids."
"Too bad," said Darren. "Oh well, thanks for playing, Dad. You can go back to work now." Darren and Leonie left, leaving Daniel slightly bewildered.
Why on Earth is my son suddenly so curious about a band he's never heard of before? asked Daniel to himself. Ah well...maybe it's coz I was in it...sigh, if only I still were...
