For those just tuning in, this challenge is about taking a story idea from bare bones idea into a fully fledged story by writing consistently every week day for fifteen minutes. The sentence I end with on one day, is the sentence I start with on the following. Part one was Bob’s story and has nothing whatsoever to do with the story below. Part Two follows a character named Penelope. I have a few basic sentences to act as road marks on her journey. I am loosely calling that an outline. We will see where she ends up by the time the story is done. For now, we start Part two of the 2025 Fifteen Minute Writing Challenge.
Day 15: Jannette looked up and frowned as though disturbed by the interruption.
Jannette looked up and frowned as though disturbed by the interruption. As she called Penelope to her, the look too was all for show. Jannette took in Penelope’s outfit.
“Job interview?” she asked.
“Yes,” Penelope replied.
Jannette waited, frowned when Penelope did not elaborate. “I suppose at least you were doing something productive.”
“Was there something you wanted to see me about?” Penelope asked instead of snapping at her step mother. There had been arguments in the past as Penelope asked what useful things Trinity had done. They were never arguments Penelope could win and making them usually just caused more trouble. The comment rankled though.
Jannette waited to see if Penelope would take the bait and provide an opening for an argument. Penelope stared at her stepmother politely waiting, refusing to give her the opening she wanted. Penelope suspected this was how her step mother planned to prevent her from going to the birthday party.
“Any success on the job front?” Jennette asked.
“Some,” Penelope replied. “Was that what you wanted to talk to me about?” She wondered how many times she would have to ask the same question.
“You know Trinity has never had a problem finding opportunities,” Jannette said.
Again it was a line used in the past. Trinity had never held so much as a part time job nor applied for any position. Again pointing that out would be another opening.
“I’ll be sure to congratulate her,” Penelope said. She waited for a moment. “Was that all?”
Jannette sighed. “I believe, and your father agrees of course, that it is time for you to find a place of your own.”
“I see,” Penelope replied. She waited. Jannette remained silent. “Was that all?” Penelope turned to go.
“Soon,” Jannette added.
“I’ll do my best,” Penelope added.
“We will understand of course that the process of moving and securing employment will take up most of your time. You won’t be expected to attend Trinity’s birthday of course.”
Penelope smiled. “As I was never invited, I hadn’t expected to,” Penelope said. “But I will work on moving out as soon as possible.”
Penelope moved towards the door.
“I will let the others know,” Jannette said.
“That I wasn’t invited,” Penelope said. “Don’t worry. I’ve already told them and made other plans for the evening.”
Jannette’s eyes flashed wide and her lips compressed. Penelope took it as the chance to leave the room. She left and went to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her and sighed, leaning on it. She didn’t know why she said it. She knew that Jannette would want to control the narrative and make sure there was a legitimate reason for Penelope not being there.
Ten til Midnight 