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 134: “Something going on?” Sophie asked as she passed Petra.
“Something going on?” Sophie asked as she passed Petra.
“Quarterly evaluations,” Petra said. “It’s like this every quarter.”
“Okay then,” Sophie said. She left everyone to their mornings and went into her office. She logged into the computer and put her things away. When she pulled up her e-mail she saw that her evaluation would be at ten that morning.
“I guess I get it out of the way then,” she said to herself as she quickly typed an acknowledgement e-mail to her supervisor. Technically Elizabeth had given her the evaluation for the previous quarter but she was also evaluated by Evers as well. This would be her first evaluation solely from her new supervisor’s standpoint. ‘Maybe less drama,’ she thought. ‘For me anyway.’
Sophie looked past her computer and into the general HR and Accounts offices. They were both a hive of activity. ‘I suppose they have to process all of the evaluations and make sure files are updated and changes made.’
Sophie wondered how it would affect lunch and then shrugged. She would see what happened when it happened. ‘Maybe I can pick stuff up for them if they can’t take the time. But if I have my evaluation today, I need to get moving if I don’t want to stay late.’
Sophie dismissed thoughts of the others and got moving on her own work, the high energy of the office around her seeping in and keeping her focused. By the time ten o’clock rolled around and she locked down her computer, Sophie felt she was ahead of her normal Monday work load. She locked the files away and took a notebook out of the desk drawer.
Soon she was riding the elevator up to her supervisor’s floor. As usual the receptionist smiled as she got out of the elevator. From the sign on her desk Sophie knew the woman was named Bonnie, but they never exchanged more than a word or two.
“She’s expecting you, go on in,” Bonnis said.
“Thanks,” Sophie replied. As she walked past, Sophie tried to remember if she ever said more than Thanks to Bonnie. She shook off the thought as she moved to Elizabeth’s office.
“Right on time,” Elixabeth said. “This should be pretty painless.” Slowly they went through Sophie’s file. They discussed what her current workload was like and how she was dealing with it. They discussed the results and Elizabeth took down a few notes.
“I did have one concern,” Elixabeth said. Sophie’s heart started to race.
“Yes?”
“You have a lot of accumulated leave time. I know you had the time off when things were being restructured and you have been setting up a new system, but please don’t be afraid to take some of your leave time when you need it.”
Sophie nodded, feeling relieved when that was the biggest complaint. “I won’t,” she said. “Excellent,” Elizabeth replied. The evaluation finished soon after and Sophie stood to leave.
Ten til Midnight 