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 97: “Okay,” Elizabeth said. “Are you ready for this week’s changes?”
“Okay,” Elizabeth said. “Are you ready for this week’s changes?”
Sophie nodded. Petra’s warnings about afternoon upheaval danced in her head.
“Right well we need to send more files in a few of the new accounts down to you. You will need to monitor your time. I don’t want you staying late to get things done. We need to see if we are going to need more hires or if we will need to transfer people so we will increase your workload weekly until you reach a point where you feel it is too much.”
Elizabeth looked at Sophie. “It is important you tell me before it becomes too much so we can adequately distribute everything.”
“I’ll let you know,” Sophie said. She had no desire to give up any of her off work time to the office anymore. She thought that might be a bad thing to say to her supervisor so she didn’t add that on.
“Good, as long as we are clear on the no staying late or taking up work from anyone else,” She said. “We will be having a weekly meeting here at one every Friday to go over the new additions to the week and how you feel about them.”
“I’ll make sure to set a reminder,” Sophie said. She made a note on her steno pad.
“Excellent,” Elizabeth said. She closed her notebook and took a deep breath letting it out in a huff. “I believe the rest of your office will be in a meeting this afternoon as their department is being reorganized. I suspect there will be some ruffled feathers so you may want to keep an eye out.”
“Right,” Sophie said. She closed her own notebook and slipped the pen she was using into the binding. Two warnings for one afternoon. She doubted that heralded a calm office. “Thanks for the heads up,” she said.
As their meeting was clearly over, Sophie headed back towards the elevator. As she was walking towards it Sean hurried over. “I’m on my way down,” he said. “I’ll ride with you.”
“Okay,” Sophie said. She pressed the button and the two of them stepped onto the elevator together. The doors shut and the elevator started to descend.
“How are the new databases coming?” he asked.
“Pretty good,” Sophie said. “A bit slow as I learn them but picking up as I move forward.”
“Good to hear,” he said. The elevator arrived on their floor and they got out.
Ten til Midnight 