Hi ...
When you are a child do you ever have things that you wanted to buy but you never get it?
Or ...
Do you have things that you own but not anymore, but suddenly you want to own it again?
Well, I do.
This was last year. When I got Covid out of sudden despite I always at home, I happen to scroll online marketplace and I saw a second-hand bookshop in it. They have so many comic books and as you can see, I love comic books. But, since digitalization exist, I rarely buy it anymore. I only bought it if I really like the series, mainly as collection for my bookshelf.
So, I found a comic books that somehow, I remember wanting it when I was a seven-year-old. I never actually found that title on the shelf back in day, but I found it through the book recommendation at the back of another comic book. I become interested after reading the summary and how cute the artwork is. But, if I went to the bookstore, it never there. So, subconsciously I remembered it.
I asked the seller; do you still have this comic book title? But unfortunately, they said no, which is kind of annoying, because why they put it on display if they don't have it. I had Covid, right when I surfed the online marketplace. I’m dizzy enough to find another seller, but the child in me already awaken, so I scrolled it out and found two other seller that have it on display. I asked them one by one. The first one said they still have it, but after I paid for it, they want me to cancel it because apparently, they didn't keep track their stock, so the book that I wanted isn't there anymore.
...
For God sake ...
...
Then I asked the other seller. They said, they're going to check their storage first, so I said to them, I hope you have it because I've been searching this book for ages (pfft) and they said okay, but not promised it will be there.
Three days later, they said they have it and if you really want it, please check it out fast because they’re not going to keep it to only one person (?). Like, if they found another buyer that check out faster than I am, the book goes to them. Then, I check it out very fast and three days later …
Here it is, the comic book that I always wanted.
A miniseries called Melody & Christopher by Naoko Moto.
Both are little detectives but Melody can speak to animals. A simple story, simple characters, and a simple problem, yet captured my heart to own it. First published in 1999 in Indonesia. It's a 22 years old comic book. No wonder I never found it, I'm three years late.
This kind of comic books cover is such an old school cover. Red is for feminine kind of story and dark blue is for masculine story. Light blue is for Doraemon. The Indonesian publisher did this until maybe, 2004? They didn’t do this kind of cover anymore. This comic book and my other old collection is called vintage now. 90’s kids like me are considered as vintage.
I know this is just a small thing, but for me it's kind of achievement. I am now in a position that, in small step, fulfil my childhood 'craving'. Never know that brain can remember something that I, myself, didn’t know or didn’t imagine, about my forgotten wish like this. And I don’t know either that simple things like a comic book can makes me happy.
People often said, why are you still reading these kids book? Isn’t it time for you to change or move on to more adult reading material?
Well, listen. I’m growing. At this age, I can read both kind of book or any book that I wanted. Why should I leave one behind just to feel or look more adult? If become adult is like shoving all the little fun I have, what’s the point of become adult?
Why would I stop liking things that makes me keep going?
You know, I will always have this child side. It will stay, like, forever. Doesn’t mean I will not responsible as an adult, just you know … you get it. Maybe, you have it, too. So, bye~
