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 96: Sophie took the offered seat in front of Elizabeth’s desk.
Sophie took the offered seat in front of Elizabeth’s desk. Together they began going through the various files Sophie was now working with. Elizabeth listened and even jotted down a few notes.
“And have you noticed any major issues with any of the new databases?” Elizabeth asked. “Any difficulties navigating them that would make dealing with the accounts using those databases slower or slightly more problematic?”
Sophie thought about it. “With the databases no real problems. I think I am slower on them because they are newer to me, but once I get used to them then they should go relatively quickly. The Peterson Accounts will always be a little slower. They involve elements from two separate databases, one that is project based and one that is accounting based. While the two databases are linked, the information is put n separately. However in the files, all of the information is kind of jumbled so I have to sort which information goes into each system. It makes it take longer.”
Elizabeth nodded and she turned pulling one of the Peterson Account files from the stack. “Can you show me?”
Together the two of them went though the files and Sophie pointed out the areas. “I can see the issue.” Elizabeth said. “Unfortunately this is their preferred format. Knowing it will take longer to input and why will help with billing though. And if they do not like the time we have suggestions for how they can alter their paperwork to streamline it.”
Elizabeth made notes for he own files and Sophie found herself pleased. When she spoke Elizabeth listened to her even if the issue didn’t magically go away. It was a nice change. Anytime she spoke with Evers it was to be ordered to do something and while she occasionally tried to say things to him, he never listened.
‘But that was only in the beginning,’ she realized. After a time she no longer felt comfortable opening her mouth to say anything around him. Any comments she made were met with the threat of a bad review and probation. She somehow doubted that if she raised reasonable questions or comments Elizabeth would threaten her. ‘Not if I am still competently doing my work.’
It was a nice change.
They finished going through Sophie’s new files but as there were no other real issues, it didn’t take too long.
“Okay,” Elizabeth said. “Are you ready for this week’s changes?”
Ten til Midnight 