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 89: There were significantly more people about when they made it to the lobby.
There were significantly more people about when they made it to the lobby. Oddly enough it made Gwen feel less exposed. The large space looked like it was designed for the large number of people now using it. Before when she walked through it was mostly her with one of her grandparents or Alan or just her on her own. It was a relief to see that there were indeed other people in the building.
All of the people moving past looked like they were on their way to some sort of office. They were dressed in upscale business clothes and strode purposefully through the space as though their minds were already on the workday ahead. It made Gwen feel like she ought to hurry as well. Margaret kept her steady pace though and let the others rush past her, unconcerned with their scurrying.
There were the occasional comments tossed her grandmother’s way and they were politely acknowledged but no one had the time to stop and talk.
They reached the side walk and the others scattered to vehicles waiting in a line or to continue striding down the street. Gwen and Margaret skirted around the doorman busy escorting people into their appropriate vehicles and began their walk. They were quickly out paced by the others, losing them in the general foot traffic that continued by.
There were far more people and cars about and the world was significantly louder than before. It wasn’t as though it had been quiet, but it seemed more than five times as many people were awake as when she walked to the park with Alan.
Soon enough they reached the first of the places Gwen wished to investigate. The small school that taught baking was in the office next to an actual bakery. At this time of the morning, patrons were walking in and out of the bakery in a steadily moving line. Some walked in and came out with pastry boxes, others walked out with travel coffee mugs filled with coffee and a singular pastry clutched in their hands. They ate as they walked leaving a trail of crumbs and powdered sugar in their wakes.
Gwen inhaled and the scent was glorious. Cinnamon, sugar and warm dough were the main scents staining the air.
“Even the air smells fattening,” Margaret said. “Although delicious,” she conceded.
While the doors to the bakery itself were opening and closing with regularity, the small office next door was still and closed. There was a light on inside and the door opened when Margaret pulled. The two of them stepped inside. While the delicious scents from the bakery wafted over, bringing with them a stronger scent of coffee to help balance all the sweetness and spice in the air, there was also an undertone. The under tone to the scent let Gwen know she was standing in an office that dealt more with paperwork than pastries.
“Good morning,” the woman behind the desk said. She was typing on her computer and barely looked up. “If you ae looking for the bakery it is next door.”
“We are looking for information actually,” Margaret said. Something about her tone stopped the woman. The clicking of the keys ceased and she looked away from her screen.
“I see,” the woman smiled welcomingly and stood. “Sorry about that. We mostly get people who think this is a shortcut to the counter at this time of day. How may I help you?”
Margaret nodded.
Ten til Midnight 