When I was in primary school, my family was not well-off. Living with my mum, a single mother and an older brother who was in secondary school. I was living in a 3 room flat then in Clementi. There was this mamak's store near my home besides selling toys and candies, he had a huge collection of magazines, comics and books. I think the array of colorful book covers attracted me.
It never occurred to me if the mamak, his name is Uncle Michael, would chase me away if he saw me stood there and read. In fact every time he saw me, he would smile. I guess I was a pretty cute girl. Anyway I would spent hours, 2-3 to the max. My mum knew every time I came home late from school. And I just loved it when I did the errands, thats when I would make my way to the Mamak's store. And if I got lost track in time, I would come home and get a lecture from my mum because she would be waiting for her red chillies to make curry.
There was one time, I went to do my errands, I think I overshot the number of hours. My mum literally went down and looked for me. She went to the NTUC fairprice nearby to ask one kakak if she knew where I was. She pointed to the mamak's shop which was directly opposite. And there I was, reading gleefully. I think I was reading one of the Bookworm Books series. My mum walked up to me and I thought "I'm going to get it." She just said to me, I have been waiting for you upstairs." I was feeling sorry for making her worry. I think she was not mad at me for spending so much time there because she knew we couldn't afford to buy books.
I continue reading at his shop til we moved and I went to secondary school. I didn't have the time anymore.
It's been 23 years since I last read at Uncle Michael's. I heard he has moved on but the shop is still there. Only slightly smaller. Once a while, if I pass by, I would drop by and say hello to my friends for keeping me entertained.
