The Fifteen Minute Novel 2023: Day 106

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 106: It would actually be a relief to talk to someone she knew rather than the getting to know you small talk she made with strangers for a while.

It would actually be a relief to talk to someone she knew rather than the getting to know you small talk she made with strangers for a while.  Gwen realized that since she left she only really held the kind of conversations someone holds with strangers.  The ones with her grandparents leaned more into the getting to know you variety, but it was still a learning process. 

‘But I know Michael,’ Gwen thought as they hit their stride and continued on their course.  She had known Michael since kindergarten and while she might not know all of the details of his home life, she wouldn’t have to explain things like Westport or toby or Lisa.  He knew those things.

Gwen decided she didn’t mind the new things or getting to know new people, but it was a bit of a relief to have someone she knew already around.  ‘if his step mother and Grandmother know each other from their volunteer stuff, I wonder if he is going to be going to some of the events grandmother has me going to.’

As their running for the morning wound down and they slowed to a cooling off pace, Gwen wondered if she should ask him or if her grandmother might not want Jenny to know the details.

‘Maybe I’ll ask at breakfast.’ She decided. 

The morning run ended and the group split to go their separate ways.  Gwen knew that eventually they would all merge back at the office as they all worked in the same building.  She wasn’t really a part of the group.  They were nice to her as she was related to her grandfather, but once they figured out that they were not going to have to see her in the office everyday, they kept things simply polite.  She felt welcomed, but not like she was going to be making friends with any of them and hanging out. 

‘maybe I’ll make friends when I go to the classes,’ she decided as she and Alan walked back towards the apartment building.  He left her in the lobby and Gwen waved at the man at the counter.  Harold had left and the day time person arrived.  As she was sweaty and stinky, Gwen didn’t feel like lingering to talk.  

She took the elevator upstairs and then let herself back into the apartment.  She went to take a shower and by the time she emerged clean and ready to face the day, her grandfather was in the kitchen and the scent of coffee filled the apartment.  As Gwen joined her grandparents in the kitchen, George was puzzling over one of the new gadgets her grandmother picked up on their excursion.  Margaret was looking at the morning news on her tablet and pretending she had never seen the item George was inspecting.

Gwen decided not to mention it.  She looked to Margaret instead, ignoring George’s confusion.  “I was just wondering,” she began.  “I know you and Michael’s step mother are part of the same board and see each other.  Do you know if he is going to be at any of the events that you asked me to put on the calendar?”

Margaret looked up from her tablet and in fact turned it off and set it aside.  “I don’t know,” Margaret said after a few moments of thought.  I know that jenny and her husband will be at a few.  The younger children don’t really attend.  They came to one event if I recall but that didn’t go terribly well and they haven’t been back.  I am not certain whether they will bring Michael or not.”

“It didn’t go well?” Gwen asked.