Elementary school, grades K-6.
He was very popular among his peers, a phenomenon he later described as feeling like “the captain of the big gang.”[1]
But, even though he received an unusual amount of attention from friends, family, teachers, and fellow churchgoers, Daniel often felt like a “loner” and spent a lot of time by himself, whiling away the hours by drawing.[2]
As a child, Daniel often attended Arner Funeral Home after church. As he would relate it later, when he was on his way out the door, the funeral director would say, “See you later!” He repeated this, jokingly, to elementary school friends, and it seems that this could have been the spark for a fascination with—and ability to joke about—death.[3]
Inspired by an early love of comic strips, Daniel began drawing an original series of comic strips about his cat, Sassy Fras. First, he drew her as a cat. Later, she evolved into a man with arms and legs. Later still, she evolved into a superhero. Until his psychotic break in December 1986, in Austin, Daniel almost always had one or more comic strip(s) going.[4]
In elementary school, Daniel was often in trouble for drawing in class and was a regular visitor to the principal’s office.[5] But, as much as his teachers would have preferred for him to pay attention in class, they were enamored of his artwork, which hung proudly on many teachers’ walls. The school principal was so impressed with his art that he invited young Danny to have dinner at his home and meet his family, an extraordinary gesture.
When he was 7 or 8 years old, Daniel realized, to his horror, that he had not yet been baptized. Bill and Mabel explained that he needed to be older, and more knowledgeable, to receive a proper baptism.
[1] CS0344_0 1983 letter to David Thornberry, recorded Aug. 28, 1983
[2] CS0344_0 1983 letter to David Thornberry, recorded Aug. 28, 1983
[3]“My Dinner with Daniel” YouTube video. Also elsewhere. August 1988
[4] Virtually every notebook before his 1986 psychotic break, including many that were lost when he threw all his belongings into a dumpster as soon as he was released from Austin State Hospital.
[1] “You’re Gonna Make It Joe,” More Songs of Pain, 1983