Written in the Stars

The rivalry showed no sign of letting up, but was there still a match being made in heaven?

- S Bee

Dear Sir, I wish to express my concerns about the closure of the public toilet block in the market square... read yet another letter from Mr Rant!

Max, the editor of the local weekly newspaper, The Ryecorn Gazette, paused, as he reflected upon the paper’s forthcoming anniversary. It was 1980, and the paper was still going strong.

Max resumed reading the less than cordial letter and knew that he would publish it, just as they always did. And then they’d all await Miss Opposing View’s customary response.

These two loved nothing better than engaging in a heated debate with one another across the Gazette’s ‘Have your Say’ page.

Sure enough, a few days later, Miss Opposing View’s letter arrived on Max’s desk.

Dear Sir, Regarding the letter last week, I’m glad that the toilets have been shut. They’re damp, dirty and beyond repair. I hope the council pulls the block down...

Max chuckled and looked up, his pulse quickening as he noticed Ruth, the paper’s astrologer, heading towards his office, clutching two mugs of coffee. Pretty, intelligent and possessed of a wicked sense of humour, Max had been fortunate to count her as a friend since starting at the Gazette. They just seemed to click. Even so, he still sometimes found himself feeling oddly tongue-tied around her. Though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why...

‘It’s those two letter-writers again!’ Max said, gesturing to the envelope on his desk.