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 74: It was also why she lived at home during her schooling.
It was also why she lived at home during her schooling. Penelope tried to figure out who might know her old password. “I haven’t given the password to anyone,” she said. “Either the new one or the old,” she clarified.
“Ah well I can tell you that it is a computer that has been used before to log into your account and take out funds. It was why it was marked. I have taken the liberty of printing out the list of all of the access moments from the account.” He pulled a sheet of paper from the side and placed it on his blotter. He ran his fingers over it nervously.
“I should also warn you that we have reported the incident.”
“You have?” Penelope asked.
“It is the law. While normally there would be a different procedure, the Emperor has asked that if there are an issues or irregularities involving anyone with magic in his empire than those irregularities must be reported to him.”
“You called the emperor?” Penelope asked.
“Oh not directly,” Fairchild shook his head, his eyes widening. “Could you imagine?” He let out a nervous chuckle. “No his chancellor or at least his chancellors office. There is some sort of clerk assigned to these sort of matters. It wasn’t reported before as you well…”
“Weren’t known to have magic?” Penelope finished.
“Exactly,” he fairly breathed the word out. “Now that we do know then we have to not only report this incident but the …um…earlier withdrawals made by the same person.”
“I see, I suppose,” Penelope said frowning. “When I was under age my father was managing the account, wouldn’t those earlier withdrawals be something you would speak to him about?”
“Oh I am certain someone will be doing so, yes,” Fairchild nodded. “However I was told to make sure you knew of the interest being taken and to let you know that it will be investigated. I was also supposed to give you the name of your assigned case worker as he will be calling you to verify details. By asking you here we could make sure everything is properly coordinated. Plus I need to issue new account numbers so that any connection is broken.”
“Oh I see,” Penelope said. “Case worker?”
‘It is what they have always been called when we have needed to go through this process before. Luckily it hasn’t been that often. Still there are always those who will take advantage.”
Penelope nodded as Fairchild handed her a card. “Franklin Waterman is your caseworkers name and his number is there on the card. I know I don’t like to answer calls when they come from people I don’t know. Now let’s get those account numbers changed.”
It took very little time to change the account numbers and soon Penelope was back in the parking lot, the new information tucked into her purse. She also had a list of the things charged to her account over the years. She was certain some of it was justified as living expenses but she wasn’t entirely certain how the trust was set up, other than it was supposed to pay for her education.
AS she approached her car a strange feeling filled her. It caused thoughts of the bank to slip away. It wasn’t exactly the same feeling she had when she avoided the front cart return but it was close. Her steps slowed as she approached her car.
Ten til Midnight 