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…
Tuesday, March 26th, Day 62: As she set the container down on her cleared desk, Sophie heard sounds of movement from outside her cubicle.
As she set the container down on her cleared desk, Sophie heard sounds of movement from outside her cubicle. “What smells so good?” Sophie heard Ryan ask Kristen.
“Sophia came back with lunch from one of the food trucks,” Kristen said. There was the stain of disgust in her voice. Ryan didn’t seem to notice and Sophie allowed herself a brief eye roll at the tone. She was unsurprised a moment later when Ryan peeked around the corner and looked in on her.
“Hey,” he said. Sophie turned. His gaze slipped past her to her lunch wrap. “That’s at one of the food trucks?” he asked.
“Yes,” Sophie replied.
“Huh, I thought they only had like greasy tacos or something,” he said.
“They do have several really good taco trucks that come around,” Sophie said. “I just wanted a wrap today.”
“Cool,” he said, not really listening. “And you got down there and back in less than normal lunch time?”
“I left just before noon,” she told him. He looked at his watch and his eyebrows lifted in surprise. “The earlier you go the less of a line.”
“Still, good enough for time.”
He left again without a word and went around the corner. “Where are you going?” Kristen asked.
“Lunch,” Ryan answered.
Kristen sighed. “Hold on, I’ll go with.”
The two left and Sophie sat down to enjoy her wrap. But the time she was finishing her lunch and wiping down her hands with some wet wipe cloths she kept in her desk, Kristen and Ryan returned.
“I suppose it isn’t that bad,” Kristen said. “I still have to eat at my desk though.”
Sophie rolled her eyes and made sure all of her trash was disposed of. Even though she still had time on her lunch break, she decided she would rather just slip on a podcast so she didn’t have to listen to the others.
‘Might as well get back to work.’
The rest of the afternoon flowed smoothly and when the day ran out, Sophie left with the others. “Thanks for letting me know about the food trucks,” he said to Sophie.
“Glad to help,” she said. “What did you go with?”
“I went with the Bhan mi,” he said. “Their line was moving fast and it was delicious.”
“It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be,” Kristen added. “Although I still hate eating at my desk.”
“They do have tables,” Sophie said.
“I don’t have the time for that now,” Kristen said.
“Right,” Sophie said. She wasn’t certain what else to say. Luckily the elevator reached the floor and the door opened. They all got out and went their separate ways.
The next day was more or less the same. Sophie brought her lunch, but apparently word that the food truck court was a good lunch option spread throughout the office.
Ten til Midnight 