Welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Each morning I spend fifteen minutes writing on a singular story line. Each morning starts with the last line of the previous day. The goal is to get a (very) rough draft out of the simple story idea and to avoid letting the story idea languish in limbo forever, actually writing it out. This is the third year I have done this writing experiment and each year I learn just a little bit about myself and the way I write as well as creating a framework for the story. But without further ado…
Day 33: Others frowned but still paused to allow people to get out.
Others frowned but still paused to allow people to get out. It was as though they regretted the curtesy but couldn’t stop themselves. Gwen slipped into the row and finally made it out of the plan, descending the ramp and moving into the airport building. She stepped away from her gate and looked at the signs trying to find her way to G12. Once she figured out which direction she needed, she started walking. As she walked she kept alert for signs of a ladies restroom knowing she needed to relieve her bladder before she boarded.
A few paces in and she found what she needed. Gwen stopped off into the restroom, pleased that somehow there was no line waiting. She used the facilities quickly and went to wash her hands. By the time she washed her hands other flights landed and there was a line of women waiting.
‘Good timing I guess,’ Gwen thought as she tried to shuffle past the line of those waiting to leave. She made it back to the open pathway and continued on to her gate. She found it with relative ease. There was still time before boarding and Gwen noticed there were a couple of fast food restaurants nearby. Not really caring which one she got, Gwen chose the one with the shortest line, ordered something small and took it back to the waiting area for her gate.
Having never visited her grandparents before Gwen didn’t quite know what to expect when she arrived. She didn’t know if there would be a big meal planned or f she would arrive too late for dinner. She figured with the burger and fries in her belly she could skip dinner if she had to or make a show at eating something if it was especially prepared for her.
Their house had never really had many family photos. The house had framed artwork that complemented the décor bu no framed family photos. She knew what her grandparents looked like as she had met them, but she didn’t really know much about them. She knew her grandfather was some sort of executive at a major corporation, but she didn’t know what corporation or what it was he did as an executive. The details had never come up.
‘And he might be retired.’ She didn’t know. No one ever mentioned her grandmother working so she knew even less. There were cards, simply signed and occasionally a gift. The diamond earrings she wore for graduation came in a small package along with her birthday card when she turned sixteen. She received a pendant necklace with her birthstone and a diamond in it when she turned eighteen a few months prior.
‘So I know they send jewelry for special birthdays.’ It still wasn’t much to go on. ‘And it tells me nothing about what will happen when I get there.’ She finished the last of her burger and fries and put the trash in the bin next to her. Worry began to gnaw at her.
Ten til Midnight 