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 173: “My room’s kind of a mess with the packing,” she told him.
“My room’s kind of a mess with the packing,” she told him. “And I broght bags for donation down to the living room.”
“I don’t think that should matter,” Morgan told her. She favored Gwen with a bright smile. It was professional grade and Gwen found it both dazzling and slightly creepy. The three of them went back inside and Gwen was relieved to see Morgan’s smile dip into a more thoughtful look as she began a personal appraisal of the house. Her pace down the hall was slow and measured as she looked at the floor, the ceiling and a million details in between. She pulled out a notebook and Gwen saw her start to make notes as moved.
Deciding it was better to leave her to it, Gwen went back upstairs and started to tidy a bit so that Morgan could at least move freely through her room. After a few minutes she heard her father’s tread on the steps. Gwen looked up.
“She is evaluating our kitchen appliances,” he told her.
“Ah,” Gwen replied. “I hope they are up to her standards.”
Henry smiled. “Sharron had them upgraded last year remember? They are at least all under warrantee.”
“Right the dinner party,” Gwen said. Enry laughed.
“Yes, the dinner party.”
While most of Henry’s entertaining was done in restaurants occasionally there were home held dinner parties. It was a thing for a while and when Henry hosted Sharron ordered in from a restaurant and put the food on new dishware she purchased for the occasion to make it seem home cooked. At some point during the dinner a comment was made about the oven. It was a general comment about someone having the exact same oven before they moved and how they used to love certain features. The comment was said with longing, but Sharron only heard the past tense and decided everything was out of date. The appliances were replaced within the week.
It was unnecessary as not much cooking was ever done her but Gwen suspected the newer appliances would be a selling point now.
“About dinner,” Henry said. “Something has come up at work so once Morgan is done I will have to go back to the office.”
“Oh okay,” Gwen said. “I had some friends asking if I wanted to go out with them so I an just join them instead,” she told him.
Henry looked relieved. “Good, good.” He looked around. “You’ve made progress,” he said.
“I have,” Gwen replied. “I was wondering if I could send a suitcase with you. They are things I want to keep but don’t want to take.”
“Sure, I can load that up before I leave so it will be out of the way.” Henry nodded.
Ten til Midnight 