Reporter’s Diary: ‘Spirited’ stories that don’t make it to print

More often than not, one ends up stealing emotions to the subject’s hardships in order to get a better account of the story. To deal with a grown man sobbing as he recounts a tragedy that struck his family is not unusual for this scribe who also ends up dealing with a small crowd that gathers to hear the tale, tsk-ing and murmuring in sympathy.

Often, misery loves company and one story leads to another. But once in a while, the stories get quite colourful and don’t quite make the cut. One such instance is that of a particular individual who informed that the reason he did not work for two years was because he was possessed by a ghost! While this reporter began laughing, thinking it could be a joke, the man remained completely serious.

A quick lean-in and sniff to check if a trip to a neighbourhood Tasmac store was responsible for his predicament also confirmed that the man was indeed sober. His problem was clearly due to spirits of another kind.