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 37: “I’m sorry to have broken it to you this way. I would have thought they said something.”
“I’m sorry to have broken it to you this way. I would have thought they said something.” Margaret frowned.
Gwen shook her head at her grandmother. “No, no one mentioned anything about a separation.”
“Ah,” Margaret said. “You two must have been close?”
Gwen snorted a laugh. “Not really,” she said. “I was closer to Mrs. Lewis but I suppose that is gone now too.” She felt tears prickle her eyes. Gwen swiped at them. “Sorry, just tired.”
“Did something happen to Mrs. Lewis?” Margaret asked.
Gwen blinked in surprise. “Didn’t Dad tell you?” she asked.
Margaret shook her head and frowned. “I suppose Henry decided to leave both of us in the dark. So why don’t we shed some light on things. Why don’t you tell me what has been happening?”
Gwen took a deep breath and nodded. As she did she realized she never said it out out loud. Everyone simply knew what was going on. She never had to say anything. “I was dating Toby for a while and there is this big pre graduation dance. A lot of girls end up getting engaged at the dance. Toby was seen buying a ring so I thought he was going to propose,” Gwen said. “A week before the dance he tells me that he has been seeing my best friend Lisa Lewis behind my back for the last year and a half. Not only was she my best friend but her Mom sort of looked after me and now….well I lost that too.”
“Oh I am so sorry dear,” Margaret said. “I wish I had known. What a horrible thing to have to go through. But what about Sharron?” She asked. She married your father only a year after your mother died, was she not around?”
“Well when Mom was sick Mrs. Lewis helped me out, so I went places with Lisa. If Lisa was going somewhere then often times I would just go along. And then after Mom died, that sort of continued. Sharron said that as we had a system then we should just stick with it. After all Mrs. Lewis already knew the routine.”
“I…see,” Margaret said slowly. She appeared to be thinking through several things. Gwen wondered if she would share them. “What happened when you wanted to do something Lisa wasn’t involved in?” she asked.
“Oh,” Gwen said. She was expecting more questions about Sharron and it took her off guard. “Well if I could do them on my own sometimes I went but often I just didn’t do them.”
Margaret nodded. “You didn’t ask Sharron to take you to them, or your father?”
Gwen shrugged. “Dad worked a lot and traveled,” she said. “I usually didn’t ask Sharron.”
“I see,” Margaret said. Gwen frowned as she thought about it. There were several things she wanted to do that Lisa had no interest in, but she needed an adult to take them to the activity. She remembered asking Sharron a couple of times but it never seemed to be the right time or the activity was not something Sharron approved of and therefore saw no reason to take her. After a few attempts, Gwen gave up asking. If she couldn’t go with Lisa or walk there on her own, she just didn’t go. Eventually most of the things she wanted to do that Lisa didn’t fell off her radar. Running was the only thing she kept and even that she let go of when they conflicted with her classes.
“So,” Margaret continued. “Have you thought about your future?” she asked. Gwen blinked. For a moment she felt like her grandmother could read her mind.
Ten til Midnight 