Ok so have this idea : D
Danny should have said anything- anything else to his Parents when they ask what he was going to do with his life.
But no, he blurted out in frustration "I don't know" - which yeah he was still miffed from being boxed by the boxghost.
Even more so as his friends keep looking at the clip of him doign so. AND his homework was destroyed, AGAIN. He worked all week on that!
Then his parents got a call from Mr. Lancer about his attendance and him "lying" about his homework, again. Like the town is invested with ghosts- its not that unbelievable.
Either way none of that mattered. Because now he was stuck on a plane halfway towards metropolis, To meet a journalist who his Mom use to be friends with when they were little.
Clark something.
She said a journalist is one of the best people to figure things out with- because they never stop asking why, how and what!
And that's what he's afraid of.
(Maddie grew up in same area at least for a bit with the Kents. And ask Clark Kent to help her son find something to strive towards.)
I Imagine Danny had a mental break on him being frustrated with not getting things done- (trying his best not to slip his tongue)
And his parents took it to heart- that danny is trying but is struggling.
So while trying to figure out what to do she sees the card Clark gave her a while back, if they ever wanted to interview about the portal. Which they had declined until it was tested further.
And a if they ever need a hand. It might be rude to ask, but he was always so kind. At first it started as asking for advice, since she couldn't recall why Clark decided to move and become a journalist.
Then it turned into a jovial conversation, and then more about Danny. Then Clark had offer to show Danny what opportunities there was.
Maddie wanted to turn him down but on more thought and talk with Jack- especially when they found Danny with his face in the cereal, that it might be a boost he needed. (they're trying for danny uwub)
Hinting Clark had picked up on something about Danny already XD
ALSO
ooo got this idea like Danny plane almost crashes, ppl assume superman saved them but superman (who was hurrying to stop other trouble afoot AND be on time to be at the airport to pick up Danny)
Knows that someone else had saved the plane. He had arrived barely before it crashed into a building from an emergency landing, even noticed how it phased through his hands. Only to turn solid once the plane was "safe"
Already proving his hunch on Maddie's kid.
But he doesn't let Danny in on that he knows. Knowing it was a sensitive topic.
