Welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Each morning I spend fifteen minutes writing on a singular story line. Each morning starts with the last line of the previous day. The goal is to get a (very) rough draft out of the simple story idea and to avoid letting the story idea languish in limbo forever, actually writing it out. This is the third year I have done this writing experiment and each year I learn just a little bit about myself and the way I write as well as creating a framework for the story. But without further ado…
Day 52: “Maggie mentioned you liked running?” George said.
“Maggie mentioned you liked running?” George said. It was half a statement, half a question.
“I do,” Gwen replied. “I was on the track team before. I had to quit when I started the accountancy classes at the local community college as there wasn’t time.”
“My office has a group that will be training for a marathon,” George said. I know the sign-up sheets just went out. As family you are eligible to join. I am pretty sure there are a few spaces left. I remember Linda complaining about there not being as many as last year. Harold had knee surgery and isn’t yet up to running a marathon and Lucinda was transferred to a satellite office. I’d regret it but she has really turned that place around. First time that satellite office has been profitable in years. We thought we would have to close it.”
“She doesn’t want to know about your satellite offices profit margins,” Margaret told George.
“I’m just saying that’s where Lucinda went,” George said.
“Uh huh,” Margaret replied. “And that has nothing to do with the fact that she mentioned accounting.”
“She mentioned the accounting,” George said.
It sounded like they were going to divert into friendly bickering and Gwen decided to jump in. “Do you need a specific number to field a marathon group?” She asked.
“Oh no,” George said. “We just want to have more than Anderson.”
Margaret shook her head and sighed. “While he is catching you up on his nemesis, I might pop into your room and make a quick list of needed toiletries so that I can plan the list of places we need to stop,” Margaret said. Gwen nodded and Margaret unfolded herself from the couch and left the room. Gwen turned back to her grandfather.
“You have a nemesis?” she asked.
George blew a raspberry in the air and waved his hand. “Just some friendly competition your grandmother things we occasionally take too far.” He looked down the hall to see where his wife is. “You are going to need to let her know when you are done shopping,” he told her. “She is very likely to take you into every store to make up for not getting to dress you up like a doll for the past eighteen years. Plus when we were there for your mother’s funeral she ran out of something or other and whatever it was she wanted the store she visited didn’t carry it. So she’s decided that none of the stores carry anything she would find appropriate.” George shrugged. “Admittedly that weekend she wasn’t likely to be happy with anything anyone offered.” He shook his head.
George took a deep breath. “Just let her know when you are done and she’ll be fine with it.”
He winked.
“I will,” Gwen replied.
“Good. So we can get you signed up for one of the training groups,” George continued. “I think several meet in the park around the corner so it should be easy enough. I think they divide them by speed or something. Linda would know, I’ll check with her later.”
“And Linda is?” Gwen asked.
Ten til Midnight 