The Fifteen Minute Novel is a novel written fifteen minutes at a time with each week day’s section starting with the sentence from the previous day. At least it is attempting to be a novel. For now I am just aiming at one continuous story, worked on for fifteen minutes each day. Started Friday January 1st, 2021 (in case you want to search for the beginning. I can’t wait to see where it ends up. It could be good, or it could be a mess. We’ll have to see. For now, here is today’s fifteen minutes.
Day 138: “I’m usually a quieter neighbor.”
“I’m usually a quieter neighbor.”
Mike nodded. “That’s good to know. I’d hate to think you made a habit of destroying burglars. While the vigilante aspect sounds cool on paper it is something best done outside the home.”
James smiled. “Well if you are going vigilante it is really hard to get the villains of the world to come and invade your home on a routine basis. After all how many times did Gotham’s villains manage to make it into the bat cave?”
“I don’t know,” Mike said. For a second he gave it what looked like serious thought, but then his lips twitched in amusement. “I’m sure there was one episode of the show, either live action or cartoon that involved a home invasion at Wayne Manor but I can’t recall it. I doubt it was part of the comics.”
“It makes Batman look vulnerable,” James said nodding.
“And we can’t have that,” Mike agreed. “At least not vulnerable in that way since they’ve already got the traumatized orphan bit going.”
Mike glanced back at the house. “And speaking of my own brood, thankfully not orphaned, I need to gt back and report in.”
“Ah, well I hope I have cause no trauma in trying to keep my television from walking away,” James told him.
“I think we’ll survive. Welcome to the neighborhood. We don’t often get a lot of burglars, so you should be safe from here on out. Unless you have the hope diamond stashed in your sock drawer, of course.”
“No, I returned that years ago,” James replied.
“Well then you should be safe. Nice to meet you James.”
“Likewise Mike.”
They shook hands and parted, Mike returning to his house to report in to his family and James to walk back to Tucker. As he approached, James saw Tucker looking at him with a slightly puzzled expression. He had no doubt that his agent heard everything.
“Did I say anything wrong?” James asked when he was close enough to use a tone that didn’t carry.
Tucker shook his head. The questions fell from his eyes and his face became generically pleasant again. “No, the burglary gone wrong is as good an explanation as any.”
James felt his stomach rumble in the hollowness reminding him that he hadn’t had much in the way of sustenance and even dealing with inept attackers took time and energy. “Do you think I’d incite another attack if I ordered a pizza?” James asked.
Tucker blinked in surprise. “I think you should be fine, but I’ll stay until it has been delivered. Let’s just clear out the others first.”
“I can wait,” James said. He didn’t think having the local pizza place arrive when the unconscious and bleeding were removed from his home was a good idea. ‘It might give other delivery services the wrong impression.’
Ten til Midnight 