TO mark the third anniversary of this column, we publish summaries of some of the stories, randomly chosen, that made the headlines. The editor thanks each one of you for your tremendous input into the column which could not have survived this long without your personal dedication, devotion, commitment and support through your wonderful works. We encourage you to continue writing and we urge others who have not yet contributed to start putting pen to paper as we embark on the fourth lap of this endless literary journey.

OUR correspondent was something of a play boy and, using his money, he got whatever he wanted in life, including girls who he changed like shirts.
In a twist of fate, however, one of the women he dumped after impregnating her would be his employer.
The author described this moving experience in a piece titled “The worst shame of my life.”
Kelvin Mazuba, apparently an intelligent student, shared the trials and tribulations of his troubled childhood, in a piece, “Promising student’s painful life experience,” noting that life has two colours; the bright and dark sides and that whatever the odds may be stacked against us, they come with the territory.
Caterpillars are a delicacy for some and can be a source of income. Although he does not eat them, Nelson Chanda described how he got lost in the woods one day when he and a colleague went on an expedition for the high protein source.
James Shimwitwa sent in a piece, “Innocent Victim Of Marijuana” in which he described how, in hopes that a cousin could get cured of a debilitating disease, the writer was caught with a prohibited substance which was said to be the cure and ended up in a police cell for his efforts.
A Lusaka business executive urged Zambians to be careful which area and hotel they chose when they visited South Africa on business or even leisure.
A victim of a violent robbery in that country himself, he relived his ordeal to Simon Mwale in a piece, “Mugged at SA hotel as staff watched.”
“When $2,000 Deal Ends In K9,000 Swindle,” screamed the headline of a story by Mulawa Mulawa who warned readers to beware of shady characters roaming the streets in our cities and towns looking to swindle you, as he was fleeced in style and sadly discovered the truth in the adage ‘not all that glitters is gold.’ In the botched deal, a South African guy using Zambian agents promised to buy old coins at USD 30 000 each.
The Coins wanted were King George 6th, 1943/51 and 1952 and Queen Elizabeth the second 1956, one penny, Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
“Served uncooked food for lunch” was the bizarre headline of a story by Our correspondent who shared a tragicomic tale of a man with three women in which his sister-in-law’s treacherous behaviour led her elder sister into depression with grotesque consequences.
MICHAEL IRECHUKWU shared the experiences of a man who lived in the Diaspora but returned to his motherland to check on his ailing father. Lots of drama happened first with his friend in the city and later in the village where he got the greatest shock of his life.
The Ndola City Council and Zesco Limited appeared to have conspired one day and unleashed havoc on some defaulting tenants in Ndola in the 90s, including Potipher Tembo, “The eaves dropper”  columnist on this paper who was one of the victims.
Timothy Kambilima highlighted the hidden risks in misguided adventure and, in a piece “I almost set house ablaze,” he said what began as kids’ play would have ended up in an unmitigated disaster had neighbours not reacted swiftly. He had set fire to an innocent-looking can that contained a flammable substance-petrol!
The most successful companies invest time, energy and resources in quality customer service as it is the pillar of sustainable growth and survival in the world of cut-throat competition.
Simon Mwale narrated a sour experience that was an antithesis of customer care in a write up, “Tasting Zampost customer service.”
In a rejoinder to the previous week’s article which chronicled a sour taste of ZamPost’s customer service, Our Correspondent narrated his daughter’s ordeal at the hands of a named airline which got his daughter almost stranded in China and how he had to fork out a tidy sum to get her back to Zambia.
“When vengeance backfires” was the title of a piece by James Shimwitwa in which he reminded readers about a Tonga adage; a rat is killed for ancient things it did. The writer narrated how he escaped punishment from someone he’d ‘wronged’ in the past-his boss-who turned victim of retaliation himself.
How long can you hold hard feelings against an erring pupil whatever the offence?
This is the question Timothy Kambilima posed as he narrated the incredible tale of his unforgiving class teacher who, despite the intervention of the deputy head teacher in the impasse, the class teacher stubbornly refused to accept an apology from Kambilima for late coming to class.
“When cultural traditions clash” was Simon Mwale’s next contribution in which he wondered whether it really mattered when people could hold a memorial service for their departed beloved ones.
The writer and family members found out that where traditions are concerned, it does matter with some tribes. As a result their planned event was almost derailed due to traditional demands, but it went ahead still after negotiations.
Have you ever lost and recovered a valuable item the same day? Our correspondent did and, in an article titled, “Recovered in nick of time,” he recounted his unbelievable stroke of luck when he regained his wallet just when someone was about to start sharing its contents-money-with another person!
Nelson Chanda was back again this time with a piece “A Scary Escapade On Lake Tanganyika” in which he  recounted a fishing adventure that turned out to be risky and was compounded by tales of being made rich through dubious means.
Our Correspondent narrated a tale of betrayal and deceit by her closest friend she trusted, proving the adage that your best friend can be your worst enemy. The writer described in detail in an article: “A tale of best friend’s deceit” how the friend-turned-enemy destroyed her relationship with her boyfriend through blatant lies and treachery.  She said the lesson from the experience for her, at least, was never trust anyone completely, less so a close mate.
Life is precious and should not be taken for granted.
You never can tell when someone is destined to die and a mere slap could be the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Timothy Kambilima recounted how he survived his uncle’s slap which he said almost killed him.
Legendary soul singer Percy Sledge sang the song, ‘Take time to know her’ in which he advises men not to rush into getting married. Apparently, the reverse is also true; women must equally be careful not to be carried away easily by promising prospects.
Our Correspondent recounted her saddest moment in life in an encounter with a snake in the grass.
Social places provide the convivial atmosphere for all sorts of interaction between friends and sometimes between total strangers.
Our Correspondent described an encounter with a mysterious man who bared his frustration with his pampering girlfriend and was desperate to ditch her, though she was giving him heaven on earth.
A woman who wanted to become something in life had all her dreams shattered, ending up in and out of the oldest profession, but remained hopeful of a better future. In an article titled “Confessions of a troubled ex-prostitute” she recounted her tale through an interpreter to Simon Mwale.
NB: Contributions to this column, the column you write, should be sent to The Editor, “It happened to me” P O Box 30394, Lusaka, email:tozletters@gmail.com or drop them at any of our Times Printpak offices.  Please note that it may take some time before articles are published; this is because they are published on a first- come- first- served basis. Don’t lose hope. Keep sending in your valuable contributions.— Editor.