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 49: She knew that in a month or so the heavier fabrics would be in stock as people started working more on winter wear.
She knew that in a month or so the heavier fabrics would be in stock as people started working more on winter wear. ‘To everything it’s season,’ she told herself as she drove home. She always found it amusing that the heaviest fabrics always appeared when the summer’s heat was at it’s height so that items could be ready for cooler weather shopping.
‘And the lightest of fabrics available when snow is still on the ground.’ Sophie long since grew accustomed to working out of season.
With her supplies restocked, Sophie spent the weekend working on her own pieces and making sure her fridge was restocked for the week ahead. It wasn’t until after her Monday Morning workout when she stepped from the shower and began to dress for the office that she even recalled the evaluation meetings. Knowing she was going to be sitting with some of the higher ups, Sophie decided on a coppery bronze blouse that she knew complemented her skin tone and paired it with chocolate-colored slacks.
Sophie took a little extra time with her hair makeup and jewelry and went to the office wondering what the day would hold. When she arrived, Sophie found Kristen had also dressed well for the day and suspected all of her co-workers made an effort. From the e-mail schedule, Sophie knew that Kristen had the first evaluation slot. Kristen looked nervous and kept glancing at the clock.
“You are first aren’t you?” Sophie asked.
Kristen looked at her and nodded. “Do you know anything?”
Sophie shook her head. “They didn’t send anything down with the file. So I just got the same e-mail as everyone else.”
“Oh I was hoping there would be something in the file,” Kristen said.
“Just about setting up the database they want to use,” Sophie replied. “Good luck.”
Kristen nodded and Sophie continued past to her desk. She stowed her purse and her lunch and went to get her files for the week from the files room. When she returned, Kristen had already left for her meeting in the conference room. Sophie felt butterflies dance in her belly. While she was gone her work was left to sit. While she caught up fairly quickly, some of the files sat for a full month that she was gone.
‘Which won’t look good on the paperwork even though I took the month off because they requested it.’ Sophie thought. She settled back at her desk and thought of Mr. Evers and his threats regarding her performance evaluations. She knew he would not hesitate to tell people she wasn’t a team player and was behind on her work. As Sophie turned on her computer, she wondered how much his review would affect her evaluation.
Ten til Midnight 