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 136: She wondered if that changed.
She wondered if that changed. As there was no way of knowing without doing far more checking than she wanted, Sophie set her curiosity to the side. ‘I’m ahead at work and I am ahead with my sleep sets,’ she told herself. She smiled a she drove home. ‘This week it is all about my collection.’
Sophie ate dinner quickly and after cleaning up, jumped into her work, adjusting her designs, moving them towards something she liked enough to fix a pattern for the test fabric. She worked until bedtime, a documentary on the cotton industry playing on the television a she worked.
The next day, Sophie arrived at work to find the same frantic activity going on in the HR and Accounting departments. ‘I guess if everyone is having their evaluations then there is a lot of paperwork to sort and positions to adjust.’ Sophie worked to a podcast in the morning and when lunch time rolled around it was clear no one else was breaking free from their desks.
She offered to pick up lunch and had several takers. She left the office with a list of orders. ‘Luckily were all agreed on the same food truck today,’ she thought. Given the order, Sophie was going a little early and hoping the truck wasn’t all that busy. While she was still ahead of schedule with her work, she didn’t want to lose the momentum and risk having to stay late. The night before, with more time to just focus on her designs, she actually made it to the pattern creation stage and was eager to move forward.
There was only one person in line when she got there and she quickly made it up to the counter. She put in the order an stepped aside to let them make it. There was no one behind her yet so Sophie didn’t have to worry about anyone getting angry at the hold up. Soon enough she had the stack of containers and was on her way back to the office.
“Someone is hungry today,” Sophie heard. She looked over and smiled as she saw Kevin. He and the woman with him walked over.
“Quarterly reviews so I offered to pick up for those wanting lunch but unable to step away,” she told him.
“Ah,”he said. “And I thought it was due to some extra time in the gym.”
“I’d have to do a lot extra in the gym to balance this out,” Sophie told him.
Kevin looked to the woman next to him. “Kelly, have you met Sophie?”
“I don’t believe I have,” Kelly said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Some to you,” Sophie said. “Although I can’t really stay to chat ass I don’t want everyone’s lunch to go cold.”
“No problem,” Kelly said. “Just wanted to say thanks for the info about Ryan It was the kick I needed to get moving.”
“Glad to help,” Sophie said. “Although if anyone asks…”
“You said nothing.” Kelly replied. “I know, I’ve dealt with Kristen.”
“Right,” Sophie said. “Well nice to meet you.” They went towards one of the food trucks while Sophie headed back towards the office.
Ten til Midnight 