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 67: Evers blinked in surprise at her statement.
Evers blinked in surprise at her statement. “I am certain you got a letter at the same time as everyone else.”
“It was about the new database,” Sophie said. “It asked that I take on no projects from anyone else or stay late so they could measure the time the new work added to my schedule. I was told the information was sent to you regarding it.”
“Of course,” Evers said. “I am certain there were some probationary measures added to it due to your inability to complete your own work in a timely manner, so you might wish to check your letter and your e-mail for that.”
“Of course,” Sophie said. She felt her temper flare, but tamped it back down with the knowledge that her official evaluation had already been filed.
“This meeting will of course do nothing to lift that probation. I do not see how anything you have done in this past quarter could merit anything but continued probation. And if it wasn’t given to you earlier, from this point on you will be put on probation. You are on very thin ice Ms. Daniels.”
“I see,” Sophie said. She watched as Evers completed her evaluation sheet.
He looked up when it was done. “I will be e-mailing an official probationary notice to you later today. If you can’t work towards becoming more of a team player by the time of your next evaluation, then I am afraid you are looking at possible termination of employment. I suggest you learn to work with your coworkers more.”
Sophie decided there was nothing she could say that wouldn’t get her into trouble. Evers didn’t seem to require a comment and he finished off his evaluation form. I believe that will be all Ms. Daniels. I suggest you learn to be more accommodating to your coworkers.”
Sophie took the dismissal for what it was, stood and walked towards the door. Evers let her go. She opened it and let herself out of the office. As she walked past Kristen’s desk, Sophie had the sudden urge to flip off the smirking woman.
‘I wonder how long it will take before someone tries to drop off files on my desk,’ she thought as she moved past. She managed to resist making any rude gestures or comments before making it back to her cubicle.
As Sophie sat down, she felt her anger simmering. She looked at her computer. Soon a probationary e-mail was going to come in from Mr. Evers. Soon he would file his evaluation. It didn’t matter that she had an officially filed one from Elizabeth Walker. She worried over the waves his evaluation would create. That more than her anger bothered her. She knew that Evers, and the others were upset she wasn’t taking over more of their work anymore.
However if the last few weeks taught her anything it was that she valued a calm and steady working environment more than anything else. When left to quietly do her job she was fine. She could leave the office behind each evening and have a life. She could do what she wanted.
Ten til Midnight 