The Fifteen Minute Novel is an attempt to take a single prompt and use the last sentence written each day as a start for the next day. This year I had several prompts circling around a similar story, so I have combined them. However, the story starts the same way each day, with the last line from the day before and a timer set for fifteen minutes. The hope is to end up with a complete, if very rough draft by the end of the year. Some stories are better than others, but I always learn a whole lot about my own writing when I do this so for me it is not only a nice way to work out a story, but it is a tool for helping my writing get better. And so, we continue this story for 2024 with…
Day 11: Sophie looked at the dress and thought about it.
Sophie looked at the dress and thought about it. The dress was relatively easy to make now that she had the pattern. “I’d have to stock up on more material,” She said as she mentally rifled her inventory. “If I can make it to the shop then I can add more colors.”
She and Janine discussed possible color options and made a list of possibilities that Janine thought would sell well. Sophie scratched a note on the back of the paper invoice Janine printed out. She knew the money would have already been deposited from the sales and later, when she needed a sewing break she would transfer the money into the correct account and sit down with the figures to see how much she actually managed to make with her side line. She knew she more than broke even but deliberately didn’t pay too much attention to the figures, wanting to let them add up.
“You know, you really could make a go of this,” Janine told her as she got ready to leave. “If you ever want to leave your job. I’m sure you could make more doing this if you were to focus. Just a thought.”
“And it is a good one,” Sophie said. “But the job’s not too bad when I’m not taking up the slack for others.”
“Uh huh,” Janine said. “And how much slack are you taking up now?”
“Too much.”
“And is that likely to change any time soon?”
Sophie sighed. “Probably not.”
“Well if I were you and didn’t want to strike out on my own then I would at least look for a different job. One that at least paid overtime if they expect you to work overtime.”
“I know,” Sophie said. “I started thinking about that the other day.”
“Really?” Janine asked. “Because you are tired of being taken advantage of?”
“Partially,” Sophie admitted. “I’m more worried that something is going to blow up soon. I told you about Kristen and Ryan right?”
“Ah yes the illicit tryst in the filing cabinets.”
“Yeah I’m pretty sure my supervisor is up to something with Carrie.”
“How come?”
“Well lately here have been longer lunches and lunch meetings with just the two of them and I caught a few bits and pieces here and there when I didn’t have my earbuds in,” Sophie said.
“Who knew your office would be such a soap opera.”
“Yeah, well if I’ve figured out that Mr. Evers is taking up with Carrie then I’m pretty certain that Petra has figured it out or soon will,” Sophie continued.
“And who is Petra?”
“She’s from accounts and I’m pretty sure Mr. Evers had a thing with her that ended at the beginning of the year.”
“Steamy,” Janine said. ‘Just out of curiosity are you the only one who isn’t sleeping with anyone in the office?”
“No there are plenty of people who don’t seem to be hooking up, I’m just worried that something will go awry with those who are.”
“All the more reason to start looking for a job elsewhere.” Janine told her.
Ten til Midnight 