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 29: “Understandably miffed I’d say,” Sophie said.
“Understandably miffed I’d say,” Sophie said. Janine lifted her glass and they clinked.
“However, that is not shockingly good news,” Janine continued. “I got a call from an upscale retailer and was asked if I would be willing to sell your sleep wear to them for their shop. It’s in a much larger city and they asked for a specific amount of sets. It’s actually only a couple of more sets then you send me each month and I am willing to forgo my sets for a while as you get started.”
Janine paused. “I’ll miss them but they are willing to pay a much higher price than I can sell them for here. I don’t quite have the cachet they do. They are willing to do a three-month contract and then reevaluate based on how they sell. Since I haven’t put up the new stuff you gave me onto the website yet, we can put that towards your first month if you like. I figured it was worth a shot to see how you felt about it. I can leave the details with you to think over. I just wanted to get the option to you before you went to the super fabulous warehouse of fabric tomorrow.” Janine pulled out a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to her.
As Sophie took the paper, a knock sounded on the door and Janine jumped up to get the pizza. Sophie set her glass to the side, unfolded the page and looked at the offer. She blinked. It was tempting. ‘More than tempting.’
Sophie decided she would sleep on it and see how she felt in the morning. She knew she would need time to figure out a schedule and see it on paper before she committed, and tonight was not the night for running numbers. She set the paper to the side as Janine returned with the pizza.
“So, bad things set to the side,” Janine said flipping open the top of the box. “You have a fabulous month off and if people aren’t handling your work, then at least you don’t have to take on theirs and they have to do all of their own work for a full thirty days.”
“There is that.” Sophie smiled and they each lifted a slice of pizza out of the box. “Cheers.”
The pizza, champagne and conversation proved to be exactly what Sophie needed and by the time Janine left, Sophie found that she managed to set work to the side and focused only on her upcoming time off. She tidied up by throwing the pizza box and empty bottle out and washing up the glasses. Sophie then drifted back to the couch and picked up the page Janine left her. It was doable and not only could she make a decent amount of money, but it would also help Janine out.
‘And even though everyone says I’m not at fault, Mr. Evers is doing my quarterly review and with that missing month, it is not going to be a good review.’ Sophie didn’t know how much that was going to count towards her record. “And it is only a three-month contract.”
Sophie was fairly certain that since she had nothing, but her own projects and the items to do for Janine, she might be able to do all three month’s worth during her time off.
‘So no matter how crazy it is when I get back, I will have the terms of the contract covered and just opt out after if I have to.’ It was a plan and one Sophie liked.
Ten til Midnight 