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 224: Sophie shivered thinking about the car.
Sophie shivered thinking about the car. She didn’t want to think of someone actually trying to hurt her. It was terrifying in a way she didn’t think she actually could be scared. She tried shaking off the fear as she and Janine went up to her apartment, but she knew it was going to be with her for a long time.
They ate their hastily purchased meal and Sophie checked over her lists. She had one list for the sewing business and one for the grocery. She looked at the grocery list and had a fleeting thought about how she was going to get to work on Monday. She didn’t know how long her car would be kept.
‘I’m certainly not using the vents for a long time though,’ She sighed. She needed her car to get to and from work. She needed it to get groceries. She couldn’t be scared to use it. ‘And my first week back was going so well,’ she thought as Janine dipped into her own apartment to pick up her hastily scrawled shopping list.
Soon enough she returned and the two of them were on their way out of town, heading for the fabric emporium. Sophie was a little hesitant to take someone with her a it was a place she enjoyed. She knew it wasn’t everyone’s kind of store and hoped Janine didn’t feel too disappointed.
They parked and Sophie took one of her reusable shopping bags in with her, slinging the strap over her shoulder. They entered the building and Sophie was relieved when Janine’s eyes widened and a smile appeared on her lips.
“Hou could make just about anything with stuff from here,” Janine said in almost a half whisper. “Is that rubberized fabric?” she said looking off towards a section of bright and shiny product.
“Yup,” Sophie replied. “Do you fancy a rubber suit?”
Janine shook her head. “Maybe next Halloween,” Janine said.
They passed by the day glo rubberized fabric and into more familiar sections. As Sophie chose what she needed for her projects, Janine seemed intent on touching every bolt of fabric she passed. She was enjoying herself and Sophie was relieved it wasn’t a chore. When they entered the silk section, Janine sighed with pleasure as she let the first of the fabrics slip through her hands.
“This is gorgeous,” she said.
“I’ll tell you what,” Sophie said. Pick a color you like and I’ll make up something for you.”
“For me?” Janine said. She blinked in surprise and Sophie realized Janine had never asked her for a personal outfit, just ones for sale.
“Definitely,” Sophie said with a nod. “As a thanks for driving me and for everything else.”
Janine smiled and slowly walked down the aisle intent more on the colors and less on feeling the textures of all the fabrics. As Sophie continued to collect the items she needed, Janine studied the shades.
“I love this one,” she finally said. “I have no idea what could be made with it though.”
Sophie looked at it and smiled as she nodded. “The color suits you,” she said. “And I am pretty sure I can come up with something if you trust me?”
Janine nodded and they added the bolt of fabric to the cart. Sophie had a general idea for the dress she was going to make for Janine, but knew she needed a few more extra bits. She made her list as she walked and mentally added them to the one in her hand, picking them up along the way. In her mind she could already see the dress start to take shape.
Ten til Midnight 