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 67: Penelope smiled as she read the lines, practically hearing the irritation in Amelia’s voice.
Penelope smiled as she read the lines, practically hearing the irritation in Amelia’s voice. Amelia went on to vent her annoyance at which topics were considered proper and which weren’t.
‘Considering I am here to learn and they are here to answer my questions, I find the list of proper and improper rather irrelevant. After all should I not ask the improper here where no one can know of it rather than continue to wonder and possibly seek answers elsewhere?’
Penelope found herself amused and in agreement with Amelia and continued on, wondering if Amelia would pursue the topic. It turned out that she did, although in a quiet and private manner. Instead of asking, Amelia began listing out all that she could find about each of the bloodlines in her family. She then started linking things to people, by going through her family tree.
The Larimer Bloodline was shown and then a list of people inheriting those traits were listed. Amelia seemed to add the information as she went. She left information so she could go back and add in as she learned more, at least that was Penelope’s guess. Much of the original set up of the basic bloodlines was done with blue ink while other information was added in sepia, black, green and once, even purple ink.
“If she was at finishing school and most of the information was back at the estate, she would have had to wait until she was home to add things in,” Penelope guessed. The diary entries continued after the large chart she was making and when Penelope looked over the entries, she could see when Amelia learned the information, proving she did go back and add it in.
Penelope took a moment to study the chart. While there were the bloodlines and the individuals listed, their skills beside them, Penelope began to realize that Amelia was adding odd notations. There were stars drawn beside some names. Large inked dots beside others and occasionally a small x placed by a name. Penelope flipped through the pages wondering what each notation meant. There was no key she could find.
“Maybe she mentions it in the text.”
As much as Penelope was enjoying the journal, her body was tired of sitting in one place. She decided it was time to move around a bit. Since she was decidedly not leaving the house until she knew what to look for in terms of danger, she decided to go up instead of out. She picked up her phone and downloaded a plant identification app. Once it loaded, she slipped on a pair of shoes and climbed up to the roof top garden.
She filled a watering can and moved from plant to plant. She took pictures of each as she tried to figure out what it might be and if it was poisonous or salad worthy. After taking the picture, she watered the plant in an effort to keep it alive.
After all the plants received their ration, Penelope scrolled through the various plants. While some of them weren’t deadly, none of them were the sort that she would expect to find in a salad. She knew that to remember them all she would need to write them down in a note book. She would then be able to make notes on their care and usage. For now, it was pleasant to just sit in the sun on the rooftop.
Ten til Midnight 