Raymond Kirlew - photo by Paul H. Williams

His Story started out as a three-month project to tell the stories of the challenges, failures and successes of Jamaican men, with the objective of informing and educating readers. It became my baby son, who is now a two-year-old boy. The first story was published on March 1, 2007.

Through His Story, men have been telling their tales, and the feedback from colleagues and readers is encouraging, thus the work continues. Thanks everybody. Some stories, naturally, stood out more than the others, judging from readers' responses and my own retrospection. After a recent review, I have decided to categorise them and come up with the best one in each category. And the winners (so far) are:

Most mysterious: 'The 'miracle' and the missing bullet'

The very first His Story was about Maurice Duhaney's escape from death when he was hit in his neck by a gunman's bullet. There's a spot on his neck where the bullet hit him, but there was no sign of it in his body or his St Catherine home where the incident took place. The gunman was cornered, held, arrested and eventually sent to prison. The bullet is still missing.

Most intriguing: 'Buckra massa pickney'

Believing life in England was a bed of roses, mixed-race Enrico Stennett stowed away only to find that he, who thought he was white, had no place in racist British societies. From the stories of his childhood days in St James, being stolen and brought to Kingston, where he came of age, his several stowaway attempts, to arriving in cold, cold England to face severe hardship and racism, his is the quintessential story of triumph over adversities. I could not get enough of it, nor could readers. It was the only story to be carried over five weeks.

Most romantic: 'The power of Love'

When Raymond Kirlew found out that his wife, Yvonne, had cancer of the blood, and was facing death, he vowed that Yvonne would not leave him. So, her illness became his and he took on the role of researcher and caregiver, nursing her back to health. His love and dedication kept her alive, and they are still in love.

Most interesting: 'His woman used to beat him'

Not many physically abused Jamaican men would confess that their women used to beat them, but In an unfolding universe, there are many explanations for our existence and the hereafter, too many dimensions to explore. Life as we know it is a mystery, but religious beliefs say there is a creator, God, who is responsible for our being here. Some people believe; some don't. Amid all the beliefs and scepticism, there are inexplicable occurrences, referred to as the paranormal. They are not part of the regular schemes of things. Frank Grandison, of Montego Bay, St James, has had very scary paranormal events over the years, which he still cannot understand. Telling the stories was emotionally draining because they are mindboggling, strange, iconoclastic and 'out-of-this-worldly'.

Funniest: 'Buckra Massa Pickney'

Amid his candid, fearless approach to telling about his experiences in Jamaica and England, there was much humour in Enrico Stennett's five-part transatlantic story. The comedy was unintentional but it lightened up a serious social commentary.

Most educational: A 'stoveless' man

Many readers and I did not know that our blood groups determine the types of food we should eat since our body produces certain enzymes that digest certain types of food. And that certain types of food sap our body of its energy and should be avoided at all cost. This was told to us by Ray Tyndale, the 'Stoveless One'.

Most upsetting: 'The man who jumped from KPH'

Wayne Saunders, otherwise known as Selassie I, has been having some mental challenges. So, he's in and out of the hospital, and having problems with his family and the police. It's a life of unending drama. I couldn't have helped him in any significant way for many reasons. In one of his many episodes with the police, he was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital. Days after, a confrontation developed between him and the police on his ward, he broke a window and stood on a ledge, with a chair in his hand. People below told him to jump and he did. He's now paralysed and still in the hospital.

Most disturbing: 'A confessed killer's torment'

I have always wondered what goes on in the mind of a killer. I found out when one turned up to tell how much he was being haunted by his past. It was chilling to hear him say that, after his first couple of killings, it didn't take anything out of him to blow a man's brain. The look in his red eyes is forever etched in my memory.

Most ludicrous: 'Spell for sex'

A young friend of mine has some serious spelling problems which can turn out to be really embarrassing. After reviewing a resumé he brought to me, I asked him what he was going to do about his challenges. He said he had to find a pretty girl who would dare him, in that if she offered him sex as a reward for making an effort to learn to spell, he could overcome his obstacles. I guess he hasn't found that pretty girl as yet.

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com

Enrico Stennett

Noel 'Nutsy' Campbell