– Joshua Metha
My earliest memories of the newspaper shop are etched in the golden hues of the early 2000s. It was a modest ten-minute trek from our front door, but to a child, it felt like a pilgrimage. It was the ultimate reward; a treat that began the moment my Father’s voice echoed through the house, calling us to join him. We didn’t just walk; we trailed behind him in anticipation, knowing we would return clutching treasures.
In those days, our hands were rarely empty on the walk home. We would emerge from the shop’s cramped, ink-scented aisles gripping the latest weekly Tinkle Digest, the colorful, Americana-fueled pages of an Archie comic, or the charmingly subpar Diamond Comics. We were blissfully indifferent to the “poorly written” plots or the rough newsprint of the latter; to our young eyes, they were masterpieces of adventure.
What began as a simple errand evolved into a sacred family ritual. As the years blurred together, my siblings and I began to claim the journey as our own. While Dad remained submerged in his college work, my sister and I would wait with coiled energy for the school peon to strike the heavy brass bell. The moment that metallic clang signaled the end of the final period, we were off—racing toward the shop to secure the newest editions before they disappeared from the racks.
I never truly considered that our ritual had an expiration date. We eventually scattered, leaving our hometown in the relentless pursuit of “Better Education”—a phrase that promised a future but demanded the sacrifice of our present traditions.
Today, the shop exists primarily as a vivid mental landscape that triggers a deep, aching nostalgia. I can still see the scene playing back like a loop of grainy film: the frantic sprint to the storefront, or the sight of my Father walking through the gate, a fresh newspaper tucked firmly under his arm and a stack of comics held like a trophy in his hand. Those years, which we once treated as mundane and guaranteed, have revealed themselves to be the most precious fragments of my life with my Father.
CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT
Joshua Metha is an English Literature graduate with a deep appreciation for the creative arts and a passion for writing. After dedicating four years to preparing for competitive examinations, he is now transitioning into a new professional chapter in graphic design.
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