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 67: ‘Maybe I should look at expanding my food knowledge as well,’ she thought. ‘After all I can’t eat the same few things forever.’
‘Maybe I should look at expanding my food knowledge as well,’ she thought. ‘After all I can’t eat the same few things forever.’ It was an interesting thought and one that had never actually occurred to her. She was certain that if her grandparents kept eating out at different restaurants while she was here she would be able to try a lot of different things.
‘That will help me start to figure out what I like I suppose.’
After dinner, everyone retired to their own spaces. Gwen wasn’t sure if they were giving her space or if they were just used to this routine. As she was used to spending any time at home alone, she didn’t mind.
“Don’t forget your alarm,” Margaret reminded her.
“I won’t.”
Once in her room, Gwen set the alarm on her cell phone and went to the closet to look at her running gear. She took out the least worn set of clothing and her favorite running shoes. She had to admit, they had seen better days. Even though they didn’t look pretty they were well worn in and comfortable. The clothing could look new and as long as it didn’t rub in the wrong places it didn’t really matter. But she wasn’t choosing shoes to be pretty.
She set everything aside and within easy reach. Mornings were not her favorite time of day. She was fine once she got morning, it was the getting moving in the first place that was the part she didn’t actually like. With the time shift, she still felt a little groggy even though she was certain she had gotten plenty of sleep.
‘I certainly had a long and crazy enough dream,’ she reminded herself. She wondered if the strange game show would return. Gwen shook her head. “The quickest way to make it return is to think about it right before bed.” She decided she wanted to put something else into her head and after changing and getting ready for bed, she snuggled under the covers with her tablet and watched videos until her eyes started to droop closed. She then set the tablet aside, double checked the alarm n her phone and slid down into the covers.
If she dreamed, she didn’t remember it and Gwen woke up, blinking blearily at the sound of her alarm. She was pulled from a deep sleep and felt groggy and slightly disoriented. Nothing looked right. The colors were wrong, the angle of the sun was wrong. She blinked and remembered she was at her grandparent’s place, not her house in Westport.
“Running, Alan, Right,” Memory caught up with her and she sat up throwing the covers off before she was tempted to roll over. She turned off the alarm and went into the bathroom. After relieving her bladder and washing her hands, Gwen washed her face. The cold water from the tap helped splash some of the sleep pout of her. Showering and any other beautification attempts would come after she returned from running. The face washing was only to encourage wakefulness.
She pulled her hair into a ponytail and dressed in her running gear. As she laced up her shoes, double tying the knots, worry about meeting all those new people fluttered through her belly. Even when she met new people before she was never alone. Lisa was always with her so it wasn’t just her.
‘But it is now,’ she thought. Gwen stood and took a deep breath.
Ten til Midnight 