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 19: ‘This is the third night this week,’ Penelope thought adding up her father’s absences as Trinity and Jeanette began discussing their plans for the day.
‘This is the third night this week,’ Penelope thought, adding up her father’s absences as Trinity and Jeanette began discussing their plans for the day. Lately he had been spending more and more time away from the house. There were late weeknights at the office and weekend projects as well as longer business trips. They were coming more frequently.
While everyone said it was business, Penelope remembered this pattern. It was the same behavior her father displayed when he was cheating on her mother with Jeannette. She was fairly certain her step mother realized it as well, even if she claimed it was simply business.
As Penelope ate her toast, she wondered what would happen if he had a child with the other woman as well. She wondered if Trinity would deal well with having a younger step sibling. ‘That would only happen if Jeannette died like mom did,’ Penelope thought. ‘And probably not then as Trinity is technically a legal adult.’
Penelope could practically see the temper tantrum Trinity would throw if she were asked to suddenly be an adult and pay for her own life. ‘Wouldn’t be pretty,’ Penelope thought as she finished her toast. Trinity and Jeannette had finished their discussion and their morning smoothies. Both set their glasses down and got up from the table. While Jeanette glanced at her, not a word was said.
Penelope sipped her coffee. ‘Doesn’t matter,’ she thought. Soon she would be leaving for good. She sipped her morning cup slowly wanting to have the others out of the house before she set her move out plan in motion. When she heard the front door open and close, Penelope relaxed and set the now empty mug down.
“Lingering today are we?” their housekeeper asked.
“Moving out today,” Penelope replied.
The older woman lifted an eyebrow. “Are we then? She asked. “While it has been requested I didn’t think it would be this early. Aren’t you supposed to be occupied with the moving on the day of the party so you have an excuse not to attend?”
“I believe that is the plan, however I have a place to go and no reason not to go there.”
“Good for you,” she said as she picked up the plate. “You’ve changed your address?”
“I have,” Penelope said.
“Good, I’ll keep an eye out for the next few days in case anything comes in.”
“Thanks.”
The housekeeper went to the window. “Their car is gone, would you like some help loading your things.”
“That would really help,” Penelope said.
With the two of them working it took very little time to have the car loaded. Penelope was certain that more went into the car than she planned. Before she left, the housekeeper came out with a picnic hamper. “To keep you fortified until you can get shopping,” she said. Penelope hugged her and put it in the passenger’s seat. She waved, got into the car and was off.
“It is done,’ Penelope said to herself as she drove down the street. Waiting until Trinity and Jeannette left the house also caused her to miss most of the rush hour traffic. She was soon across town and parking in the garage.
Ten til Midnight 