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 144: They made a small heap.
They made a small heap. In truth there wasn’t a lot that Gwen missed, but little thinks like the bowl would make things a little bit easier and make the space feel a little more settled. ‘And they want me here,’ Gwen thought. The warmth spread through her.
It was nice to feel wanted.
After scrubbing the makeup off her face and brushing out her hair, Gwen made sure everything was ready for the morning and her running group. “I suppose I might end up staying for the marathon after all,” Gwen thought.
While the group had always been training for the marathon run, it was a marathon that was in the fall. Gwen ran with the group but she wasn’t sure she would still be here when the marathon took place.
“Now it looks like I might,” she told herself. Somehow that too made her feel more like part of something. Instead of visiting she felt as though she was settling in. ‘At least as long as I am going to stay, which is longer than the summer now.’
It was a pleasant thought to drift off to and while Gwen didn’t remember her dreams when she awoke, she did wake feeling like they were good ones.
As usual she woke and used the bathroom. She dressed, stretched and went downstairs to meet Alan and walk to the park.
“So how was the Museum Benefactors meet and greet,” he asked as they walked to the park, knowing where she went the night before.
“It was fine. I told a lot of people I was having a good time, and then they ran out of things to say to me and moved on,” Gwen told him. Alan laughed. “Most of them were my grandparents age and I think I agreed to have tea with one of the older ladies who seemed to scare the other people.”
Alan laughed again. “So who was the scary lady?” He asked. “Maybe I know her.”
“Do you know a lot of scary ladies?” Gwen asked.
“I like to keep track of them so I can stay out of their way,” he told her.
“Oh well this one was named Bea Wallace,” Gwen said.
Alana let out a low whistle. “That is a scary lady. Very rich, very influential and someone I would rather avoid. And she wants to have tea with you?”
“She’s the aunt of my friend’s father,” Gwen said. “I’m not sure if she meant to have me over for tea or if she was just being polite. I suppose I’ll know If she calls my grandmother.”
“Well if you are a friend of the family maybe she won’t be as scary. I’ve heard it is just bank managers that she makes cry.”
“That’s good to know,” Gwen said.
“And by the time she gets around to asking you for tea, you might be gone.”
“Or I might not,” Gwen said. “I’m looking at going to culinary school here so I might be around longer. I might actually get to run in the marathon we are training for.”
“Excellent,” he said. They reached the park. “And here are our fellow trainees.”
As usual most of the talking stopped as they stretched and began their morning run. They headed for the trail.
Ten til Midnight 