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 90: Margaret nodded.
Margaret nodded. “I can see how that would happen,” she said. There was a door at the back of the office that looked like it led straight to the bakery. “I believe my granddaughter has some questions about your baking program,” Margaret turned to Gwen and Gwen stepped forward. The woman switched her attention to Gwen.
“There were classes listed on-line,” Gwen began. She covered the information she found and the woman nodded. “Sure we have a line up of classes available.” She reached into a drawer and pulled out a blue folder with the company logo on the front. It looked like there was a stack of identical folders below it. Gwen assumed they made up the package in advance to have it ready for walk ins like her. It made her feel better, as though her request was an expected one rather than something out of the blue.
Gwen took the folder.
“If you’d like to take that with you and go through it, then when you have specific questions you can call in and ask or you can sign up for one of the classes on our website. All of the information is in the packet.”
“Thank you,” Gwen said. She stepped back.
“Thank you,” Margaret added before turning and leading Gwen out of the office. The line to the bakery was shorter now, the morning rush slowing.
“You know,” Margaret said. Perhaps it wouldn’t be amiss to try something from the bakery since they seem to be affiliated. We can take eat while we walk.”
Gwen nodded as the scents were still tantalizing. They took their place in line and moved forward a step at a time, finally making it to the counter. Thee Margaret ordered a Danish and Gwen got a lemon cream filled doughnut. They left with their treats and ate them as they walked to their next destination. Gwen had to admit it was one of the best doughnuts she had ever tasted. The doughnut itself was pillowy soft and delicious. The filling was a mix of lemon curd and pastry cream, the tartness and the sweetness balancing well. At the end Gwen found herself licking her fingers.
Margaret seemed as enamored of her Danish and finished eating it as they reached their second destination. “Even if you decide not to take classes,” Margaret said. “That is a place I need to remember.” She took a package of wet wipes out of her purse and held them out to Gwen. Gwen took one and wiped the last of the stickiness from her fingers. Margaret took one for herself and cleaned the last remaining pasty flakes from the fingers. By the door was a trash can. They placed their used wet wipes and the paper coverings that came with their pastries in the trash and went in.
A short while later they came out and Gwen had a second folder, yellow this time, to go with the blue folder featuring pasty classes. Satisfied with their morning’s work, they went back to the apartment.
Things were quieter this time and they were the only two crossing the lobby. They rode up to the elevator and once there, to the apartment. Once back home, they moved to the kitchen table and sat down spreading the papers for the classes out on the table.
Ten til Midnight 