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 64: She tried to put Lisa completely out of her mind, blocking her with her in her thoughts as she did on the phone.
She tried to put Lisa completely out of her mind, blocking her with her in her thoughts as she did on the phone. It was easier said than done. Gwen first started to unpack the bathroom products. The products chosen matched the high end samples Gwen collected specifically for the night of the dance. She did the same sort of collection with any special event as the products weren’t specific to this dance. They were a bit more high end than she wanted to spend on necessary purchases.
Gwen smiled. It seems she was always saving for something. She got a part time job to save up to buy a car and then to pay insurance. She saved up to pay for the classes she took at the Community College and she saved up for the dress for the dance and all of the things she wanted to add to that. She was given a small allowance at home in exchange for doing chores and that money was used to buy the daily necessities like bathing products, personal items and gas for the car. As she needed to drive more, she lowered the cost she was willing to pay for things so that it was less expensive and thus more money could go towards both gas and savings.
For special events she would purchase travel sets or deluxe samples. It would be enough to make any special occasion feel special as she liked to think she dressed from the skin out starting with body lotion, shampoo and conditioner and worked up to the actual clothes and makeup.
‘Now every day can feel a little special,’ Gwen thought as she put the full sized containers into place, disposing of the now empty sample and travel sizes. ‘At least until I have to start saving up again.’
While Gwen still had savings and her father agreed to pay the insurance on her car while she was gone, Gwen was well aware that she no longer had a job and would therefore not be adding money to her accounts while she stayed with her grandparents.
‘Unless I found a job here.’
The thought held some appeal. Gwen knew that she would shadow the people at her grandfather’s office in her attempt to figure out what to do with herself. She knew she would spend some time with her her grandparents and she knew that they had events planned. She also knew that if things worked out then she would join the marathon training group in the park in the early mornings. Even with all that it would leave her with large swaths of free time.
‘Right now that is okay,’ she thought as she finished putting the bathroom items away and tidied up after herself. Gwen may be at loose ends with what she wanted to do with her life, but she knew she was not the sort to sit idle for too long. Without a task in front of her to plan and event to arrange or something to occupy her, she would get fidget.
‘I might even call Lisa and ask to help plan the wedding,’ Gwen thought. She shook her head. ‘I would have to be truly desperate.
Gwen left the bathroom and went to the bedroom. She began taking out the clothing. Several of the items were office appropriate. They looked far more professional than any of Gwens current clothing and when she hung them up in the closet they looked different. She studied them. They were still outfits she liked and wanted to wear, they just looked different because they seemed like they went with an older more mature version of her than she was used to seeing.
Gwen straightened her shoulders. ‘Maye I will be that sometime.’ She thought. ‘For now I just have to look office appropriate. She trusted her grandmother’s judgement on that. ‘And if she is wrong it will only be for a few visits anyway.’
Ten til Midnight 