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 94: ‘Besides,’ She thought. ‘I don’t know which design I like more.’
‘Besides,’ She thought. ‘I don’t know which design I like more.’ As she worked, Sophie cme up with several different looks for the same material. As she only had enough material to make one of them, sh wanted to play with the designs to find something she really liked before she even thought about taking scissors to cloth.
There was also a sort of waiting feeling at work. ‘Not really waiting,’ she corrected herself. ‘Almost a building.’
Her work was slowly transitioning. The accounts she worked with for years being transferred out a few at a time and new ones brought in. While she was fine with the change she did wonder what would happen when she was fully part of a different department. In the elevator, Sophie heard more about the changes in the work load of the others. Kristen seemed happier as several of her accounts were now no longer items she was responsible for. She didn’t have to stay late or work through lunch. Both she and Ryan were happy with their change and they still met with Evers over long lunches in his office.
Even while she paid less attention to the others, Sophie picked up on the fact that Carrie was distancing herself. She was no longer joining them for lunch and when everyone was in the elevator, Sophie noticed that she was n longer standing next to Evers, putting both Kristen and Ryan between them.
‘I wonder if it is just the end of the affair or if she is trying to save her job.’ Carrie didn’t mention accounts being transferred from her workload, but as the days slipped into weeks she became a lot quieter and rarely said much.
Despite the feeling of impending change, Sophie found the drama of her day significantly reduced. She heard only snippets in the elevator when leaving and concentrated on keeping her ear phones in during office hours so she heard none of the gossip that might occur. Her one real source of gossip was her once or twice a week lunches with Petra. As their time together was limited to walking to and from the food truck area, it wasn’t much.
One afternoon as they walked out, Petra was a lot quieter than usual. They maintained their normal conversation, but there was something missing. On their return trip Sophie realized it was the gossip. While Petra told her about her dog’s latest vet visit due to an on going love affair with eating socks, the office wasn’t mentioned until they were almost back to the doors leading into the office.
“Something is coming,” Petra said in a low voice before they entered the building. “This afternoon might be rough. You didn’t hear anything from me.”
Sophie nodded. “Thanks,” she said. She suspected that whatever Petra knew, she had been told not to share. Inside they parted and Sophie returned to her desk taking her lunch time burrito with her.
Ten til Midnight 