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 109: Penelope wasn’t sure why she was downplaying it, but something warned her not to reveal too much.
Penelope wasn’t sure why she was downplaying it, but something warned her not to reveal too much. She had no idea if she was responsible for the storm but it didn’t seem like something she should acknowledge. ‘Just learn to control if I am.’
“Oh,” Michaelson said. He sounded almost disappointed.
“Did you want me to be responsible for the storm?” Penlope asked.
“No,” Michaelson said with a laugh. “I mean it would be interesting. That is powerful magic after all. And I suppose now we need to figure out who else might be responsible.”
Penelope wondered if agents got gold stars or at least bragging rights if the people they were in charge of dealing with had stronger abilities.
“Right, well beyond the plant at the bank, things have been pretty quiet.”
“Oh,” Michaelson said. “Well that was pretty spectacular.”
“Bragging rights with other agents?” she couldn’t help asking.
“No,” he told her. He sounded slightly embarrassed. “We don’t brag. I just thought the storm would be an interesting deviation from the plant growth.”
“I see,” Penelope said. She reminded herself that sharing with Agent Michaelson needed to be kept to a minimum. Something about his tone confirmed her hunch that it wasn’t a good idea.
“So no more plant growth?” he asked.
“No, I think that might have been a one time finding out about family betrayal sort of thing. All the house plants are fine. Not even a flower bud.”
“Oh,” Michaelson said. “I can see how that might have been a trigger. An unusual release triggered by atypical circumstances.”
“Were you hoping I would be turning the city into a jungle?” she asked.
“No, but it would have been useful for areas where the desert has encroached on formerly lush fields and we needed quick ground cover or something like that.”
“Wouldn’t that take more water from the soil?” Penelope asked. She could see how it would be used but also why it might not be a good idea. “That could make it worse and then once the plants stopped growing they would just die off again and the area would be more arid.”
“I suppose so,” Michaelson said. “I hadn’t really thought about it I guess. But if it was a one time duress thing then it wasn’t your usual strength but just a flare so it isn’t really an issue I guess.”
“Like little old ladies lifting up automobiles to save small children?” Penelope asked.
“I suppose so,” Michaelson said. He offered a little laugh. “I guess everything can’t all be comic book superheroes.”
“True,” Penelope replied. ”But on the other hand it does limit the number of comic book villains as well.”
“I suppose that is true,” Michaelson said. “However talking of cars, yours will be available tomorrow after noon. Would it be convenient for me to pick you up around three?”
“Sure,” Penelope said nodding. “I guess you have your cameras in place as well?”
“We do,” Michaelson replied. “But that isn’t something you need to worry about.”
Penelope nodded, even though it couldn’t be seen through the phone.
Ten til Midnight 