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 125: By Friday, she felt she was ready to take the first of her patterns to the practice material.
By Friday, she felt she was ready to take the first of her patterns to the practice material. Sophie felt Friday drag on, knowing that she had plans for the weekend. She was eager to get started and leave the offices of Havers, Ltd behind. She was composed as she went through her weekly meeting with her supervisor and pleased when Elizabeth was happy with her work.
“And this level of work is fine for you?” Elizabeth asked. “No need to work late?”
“No,” Sophie told her. “This is fine. I don’t know if I can add much more though and still maintain normal working hours,” she offered tentatively.
Elizabeth nodded and made a note. “That is great actually,” she said. “We’ve added all we need to for the incoming contracts. It means you will still be a department of one more or less, but we don’t have to add anyone for now.”
“I don’t really mind working alone,” Sophie said.
“That is good to know,” Elizabeth said. “Also since you will probably remain in the office where you are for some time, you might as well settle in, add a print to the walls or something.”
“Right,” Sophie said. “I wasn’t sure how long I would be there so I didn’t really do anything.” In fact the thought of dressing up the office space hadn’t even occurred to her.
“Understandable since you thought it was temporary,” Elizabeth said. “Out of curiosity, have you heard anything from your former department?”
“Nothing work related,” Sophie replied.
“Ah,” Elizabeth said. “There do seem to be some …personal issues being dealt with. Don’t worry though, it is clear that you weren’t in any way involved. In fact as soon you were shifted out of the space, it was Carrie that Kristen started making accusations towards.”
“Because she was seeing Mr. Evers,” Sophie said without thinking.
“I meant in relation to Ryan,” Elizabeth said. “Although, Don does make sense. And it would explain a lot. I thought Kristen was seeing Don.”
“No, she’s seeing Ryan, or was,” Sophie said. “I suppose that could have changed when it looked like one of them might be fired.” She sighed. “I really tried hard not to find out too many details.”
“Hence the ear phones and podcasts?” Elizabeth asked. She seemed more amused than anything else.
“Pretty much,” Sophie said. “Although it was a great way to learn a new language.”
“I can see that,” Elizabeth said with a laugh. “Although it does seem like the department was a bit of a soap opera doesn’t it?”
Sophie nodded. “One I am glad I no longer have a front row seat to watch.”
Ten til Midnight 