BEASTLY TALES

THE REPORTER

Albert Inkhorn was a reporter for the Clodville Gazette.
He’d never made a “scoop” of fabulous news, and yet,
His editor sent him far and wide,
Looking for a story that might turn the tide.
Julia Hiscoff, the Magistrates daughter,
Was coming home from school, just as she “oughta”.
There was a labourer from a near-by farm,
Who spied Julia, and meaning no harm,
He readily determined to ask her out,
Probably unwise for a farm boy lout.
Albert decided to write up this story,
He’d embellish it to make it really gory.

The hyped-up story appeared in the Gazette next day.
It claimed that the lout had had his way,
By asking Julia to the picture theatre,
Yes, that was where, that night, he’d met her.
They were showing the epic Gone with The Wind,
But Julia had decided this invitation she’d rescind,
In actual fact she’d only been asked for tea,
The lout being unable to afford more, could he?
Then he had simply walked her home,
Doffing his cap from his shaven dome.
Albert wrote it up under a journalistic spotlight.
Adding that when cornered, the lout stood up to fight.
Of course, when he’d read every detail, the Magistrate,
Found Himself filled with anger, with hate.
How dare this lout, with his daughter, rudely mess,
He’d fix his wagon, yes, make him confess!

He quickly sent a summons to the lout,
Requiring him to attend his court to find out,
Just what had transpired on the night in question.
The thought of this was enough to give him indigestion.
So after much to-ing and fro-ing,
People worked out just where this was going.
Albert Inkhorn received a piece of the Magistrate’s mind.
For overstating events, to a sensational kind,
Just in order to impress his editor boss,
Who, in turn, was quite at a loss.
As to what his paper could do,
Except sit back and hope nobody would sue.

Now Julia was largely unaware of this fake news,
But she did determine now to direct her shoes,
Towards a different route from her school to her home.
And, in between, she’d study, no more to roam.
This sad story demonstrates the danger of fake news.
Yes, stick to facts in your reporting of news you choose.