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 166: She knew others thrived on that sort of excitement but personally, she had more than enough for a life time.
She knew others thrived on that sort of excitement but personally, she had more than enough for a life time. “But something dangerous seems like something I should look into.” She finished her eggs and drank the last of her juice. Penelope then took first the plate and then the glass back to the sink and slowly washed them. As she did, she thought through what she knew.
“Mrs. Merriweather might know something.” Penelope wasn’t certain she should call the woman Aunt Lenore or not. “But she was Jerome’s sister and might know about something he stole.”
Penelope shrugged. She wanted to call her anyway to ask other questions. “Might as well start with this one as it seems like the most likely to blow up in my face.”
She looked at the phone and ran a tongue over her teeth. “Brush them first.”
Penelope one back to the bathroom and brushed her teeth, wincing at the taste to the toothpaste mixing with the juice. She rinsed out the flavor with mouthwash until only the minty freshness remained. She then realized she hadn’t done anything with her hair and it was almost dry so she ran a comb through it to detangle it so it would at least dry straight.
As she set the comb down she realized she was stalling. “I guess there is no good time to start a “Hey I think your brother was my father and the person that kept trying to kill me thinks he stole something ‘ conversation.”
Penelope took a deep breath and went back to the kitchen where she left her phone. Before she could chicken out or distract herself with something else, she picked up the phone and pulled up the contact. She pressed the button and listened to it ring.
“Hello,” a voice said after the second ring. It was hesitant as though the number was not recognized. She couldn’t remember if she gave the number to Mrs. Merriweather.
“Hi, Mrs. Merriweather this is Penelope Douglas,” she said.
“Oh Penelope how lovely to hear from you,” she said.
“Are you busy?” Penelope asked. “Because if you have a minute I would like to talk to you.”
“I am happy to make time, dear,” she said. “What would you like to talk about.”
“Well it is about Jerome,” Penelope started.
“Oh,” Mrs. Merriweather said. “I didn’t realize you knew about him.”
“Well I didn’t, until yesterday actually.” Penelope said. “Agent Michaelson told me because of the plants”
“Plants,” Mrs. Merriweather repeated. “Oh, you inherited the same bloodline as Jerome. That is wonderful news. I saved some of his things just in case and will be happy to bring them over.”
“That would be great,” Penelope said. “Actually, any help would be good I keep getting more questions than answers when I look things up.”
“I imagine,” Mrs. Merriweather said. “I always thought my teachers were ineffectual when it came to my early studies but at least the boring and basic lessons provided context I suppose. I guess that means I owe Ms. Fairfax an apology. Posthumously I suppose. She was ancient when she taught me and unless she found some spell for eternal life then she is long gone.”
Penelope nodded and realized Mrs. Merriweather couldn’t see her through the phone.
Ten til Midnight 