Ophelia here, ruling sorcerer of Tabatha Town. I write our weekly newspaper, The Tabatha Tribune, from my home, the Bell and Paper Library. Historically, it was a newspaper only for the Tabatha realm, but the Tinklepinks, my furry flying PI’s who live in Tangerine Woods behind my library, have talked me into something I have never done before... to share snippets from our newspaper with you on the Ordinary Side. My goal has always been for ordinaries and magical beings to live together as one and this seems a perfect way to begin blending our worlds. Maybe one day the portal separating our sides will flow freely. For now, enjoy all the news from Tabatha Town, discover more about the letters you send to me from the Ordinary Side, and learn how I came to rule this place from being a young girl in a West London high school.

HELP LETTERS: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Whilst walking early one morning shortly after coming into reign, I came across a letter lying on the pavement on Pearly High Street. It was addressed to Anyone who can help.

Perplexed, I opened the letter and read a heart-pulling plea from a young girl asking for miracles to help her parents. Both had lost their jobs and had little money. I couldn’t forget the letter or the girl and wondered if other ordinaries also needed help. I am not supposed to assist or interfere with the day-to-day lives of those on the Ordinary Side. Yet I had become unable to think of little else because I knew how to help this girl and had the power to do so…

Ruling sorcerers, as well as their normal assigned powers, are granted the prestigious power of Iddani (words laced with magic) and I felt compelled to reply. What use is wisdom and magic if it can’t be used to help others? 

It was clear from the return address at the top of the letter it was posted from the Ordinary Side, yet two weeks later, we were still puzzled as to how the letter arrived here and how I could reply. It wasn’t until Mrs Pomme de Terre, an old and wise sorcerer sent a Tinklepink through an old gap in the wall, near where the letter had laid on the pavement, that we discovered a post box behind it. More Tinklepinks entered the post box and further investigative flying on the Ordinary side revealed a revelation. All post boxes sunk into walls on the Ordinary Side have access to Tabatha Town at the back of them – if – we make a gap or remove some of the stones from the wall on our side. We set to work to ensure this was done and now each sunken post box has, what is known these days in Tabatha Town stone postie doors to allow ordinaries to post letters to the Tabitha Realm. 

I replied to the young girl’s letter with the exact Iddani and advice for her to follow. The miracle she asked for. A few weeks later another letter arrived from her. This time it was a happy one. She’d read my words and followed my advice exactly, and not long after, one of her parents obtained a better position in a bank, the other started a business and she had made a new best friend at school.

Soon, more letters of strife and unrealised dreams came flooding in and to this day I reply to every one of them. Each letter from the Ordinary Side is filed here in the Old Press room at Bell and Paper Library. Since the letters began, the Ordinary Side has changed from a grey, dream-beaten world into a disco of possibilities, filled with excitement and ordinary beings doing extraordinary things. At times I too need advice, knowledge, or the magic of the other sorcerers within Tabatha Town. Last week I took advice from Mrs Ta-Da for the exact tea mixture this young man needed to clear his skin and help with his studies. 

Together we can keep the Ordinary Side alive in brightness and our magic is channelled for the good; magic which is not utilised, left to stagnate or used for the dark is dangerous. I fully believe without this win-win situation Tabatha Town and the Ordinary Side will decay. Given we receive many letters per week, it’s clear the Ordinary Side love the letters too. Well – all except DISMIAL DEREK and therefore the closure of these post boxes must be stopped.

Click here to read the previous episode Mrs Ta-Da

Annaliese

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