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 59: “Yes,” Gwen said. “Lisa just called me to help her plan her wedding.”
“Yes,” Gwen said. “Lisa just called me to help her plan her wedding.”
“That’s just,” Margaret said. “Well I don’t actually have words for what that is. What can she be thinking.”
“They are getting married in June,” Gwen said. An uneasy thought rumbled through her brain.
“June?” Margaret repeated. “As in this is the end of May and next month is June or June of next year’s June?”
“I think she actually means this June,” Gwen said. “Next June would make more sense planning wise, but I think she actually meant next month.”
“That is…sudden,” Margaret said.
“It is,” Gwen said. “I don’t know how she expects to plan anything in that time,” she said.
“Is there perhaps a …reason for the rush?” Margaret asked.
“You mean is she pregnant?” Gwen asked. It was the thought tickling the back of her mind. She wanted to say no. After all Lisa was her best friend. Clearly she would have said something. ‘But then again she was seeing Toby for a year and a half behind my back so maybe she wouldn’t.’
“She didn’t look pregnant when I left,” Gwen said.
“Hmm,” Margaret said. “We shall speculate no further and let her plan whatever she is going to plan on her own. If the calls become problematic then I would be happy to call Mrs. Lewis and have her sit down with Lisa and explain why calling her to assist in planning the wedding is inappropriate.” Margaret smiled darkly. “In fact I would rather enjoy making such a call. I’m sure you can handle it yourself though. But if you feel like you don’t want to just let me know.”
“Thank you,” Gwen said. “I’m sure if I ignore her then she will stop calling.” She thought of all of the texts and calls the night of the dance. “Maybe.” She amended.
“Well hopefully that is the case. If not then we will handle it. Until then, we shall put it out of our minds.”
“Agreed,” Gwen said. There was a small chuckle from the front seat and Sebastian.
“Something amusing?” Margaret asked.
“I was just think it would almost be worth the annoyance of the calls to hear you explain to this Mrs. Lewis the inappropriateness of her daughter’s actions,” Sebastian said. He tilted his head and winked at Gwen in the rearview mirror. “The last time she gave someone a dressing down her words stripped several layers of soul from the man’s psyche.”
“He had it coming,” Margaret said.
Gwen smiled. “Well hopefully Lisa will get the idea,” she said. “So no psyche scarring will be necessary.”
A few moments later they pulled up the restaurant. It was a loud and busy place with waiters circling like sharks and tables stuffed with people happily enjoying themselves.
Ten til Midnight 