Reader's Digest June/July 2025

My Story Mala Kumar has written over 40 children’s stories in her home country of India. She is a freelance writer and editor. “What are you reading that’s so funny, Appa?” I would ask. “Oh, nothing. I don’t pay much attention to the news. But reading reminds me of forgotten words that help me solve the crossword. Ah, got it! 12-D, CLASH!” An inexpensive newspaper. A few minutes of reading with the sun streaming in through the bay windows. A spark in his mind, and bingo! He’d get that elusive word to complete the puzzle. Simple rewards. Appa never bragged, but his wide, beaming smile made it clear that all was well across the world and down his lane. Appa’s words were ‘profitable’ to us in more ways than one. When he read the papers, our dog would sidle up to him, confident of a long hour or two of back strokes and tummy rubs. This left me free to write without a pup pawing for attention. Appa would gladly put his paper down to engage with curious grandchildren, telling them stories about language, lexicon, people and places. More importantly, he would listen. A good life lesson for the little ones, as they grew to appreciate that not all grown-ups are pushy or pedantic (or ‘sententious’, ‘nit- picking’, ‘pedagogic’ – Appa, I hope you’re proud!) While my father wielded words for love, I did the same for a living. He understood this, and that may have been why he never asked me to suggest a word or help him with a puzzle. For him, my words were precious; each held value. In my own mind, it did not matter how much I got paid for writing gigs. I wrote because I loved word-craft and spinning stories that brought ideas to life, often for or about non- profits – that is until recently. “You were paid peanuts!” said some of my younger, more worldly-wise friends. Unlike me, they studied freelance markets, readersdigest.co.nz 9