Miles Henderson Lived here (2)

The next day Whitcome arrived to find Skelton waiting for him at the Innesville Tourist Office.

“Skelton! Not like you to leave Outersville. Are you here for the festival?”

“I thought you’d be fishing for that,” said Skelton. “I’ve seen your petition, 37 signatories, you must have been really plugging it.  But it’s not about numbers is it, it’s about WHO signs. I mean, Napoleon AND Hitler, who could turn you down.”

“I suppose you’ve got your own petition.”

“Fifty-eight signatories, not bad eh.  Of course, a lot of those are online, social media. You don’t really go for that in Innesville, do you.”

“Are you just here to mock, or did you want to join our next tour?”

“Ah, the famous tour. The rock Henderson may have once sat on, the spittoon Henderson may well have once spat into in the local pub, the outer wall of his house, the rest of which is in Outersville.”

“The house is in Innesville, as well you know. I have maps that prove it.”

“Maps that you made, Whitcome. No, I’m not here to mock, not here for the tour, I’m here with a proposal.”

“You want to marry me, Skelton? Are you hoping to inherit my share of Miles Henderson’s home town?”

“Very funny, Whitcombe. No, I’m here to propose that we work together.  Host a joint festival for the 150th anniversary. Innesville and Outersville.”

“Ah, you want to get official recognition do you?  That would suit you wouldn’t it.”

“I’m just being realistic, Whitcombe. Why do you think the Writing Council is hesitating.  Our towns’ rivalry is seen as petty by the rest of the literary world. Wherever you draw the boundary, Henderson’s house falls in both our towns. If we join together we can save on organizing costs and maximize attendance.”

“I’m not one for compromise, Skelton. In my view Henderson Fest belongs in Innesville, and I’m not going to support a festival in Outersville.”

“It’s your call, Whitcombe, but don’t think the Writing Council will be impressed. But don’t worry, when they award the festival to us I’ll let you have a free pass to our events.