Dad’s Downstairs ((top)) ⟶

Here’s what I didn’t understand as a kid: Dad’s downstairs wasn’t just a basement. It was his exhale.

When Dad goes downstairs, he’s not hiding. He’s resetting. dad’s downstairs

So if you hear the basement door creak open tonight and see the flicker of the old TV light at the bottom of the stairs, don’t feel sad for him. Don’t think he’s hiding from the family. Here’s what I didn’t understand as a kid:

Every dad’s downstairs looks a little different. In my house, it’s a half-finished basement with wood-paneled walls, a worn leather recliner that’s molded perfectly to one body shape, and the faint, permanent smell of sawdust and coffee. and the faint