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 101: It was nice to hear a friendly and familiar voice.
It was nice to hear a friendly and familiar voice. He also sounded a bit relieved to hear her. “So when did you get here?” she asked.
“I left the morning after graduation,” he said. “Dad came in for it and apparently one night in Westport was all he could take and I flew out with him. Probably a good thing though. I think it was the first time they’ve been in the same state since the divorce and it wasn’t going well.”
“Sorry to hear that,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you at graduation.”
“From what I heard you had your own drama going,” Michael said. “Toby and Lisa? Man who would have thought.”
Gwen smiled, something inside her that she hadn’t known was wound tightly starting to loosen. “So I am not the only one who didn’t know?”
“I didn’t know anything about it,” Michael said. Was it a new thing?”
“A year and a half,” she said.
“Really?” Michael said. “I’m surprised they managed to keep it secret for that long. Neither are exactly brainiacs. But I suppose everyone has to have one skill.”
Gwen laughed. “I didn’t know hiding cheating was a skill.”
:It is for some people,” Michael said. The humor seemed to have faded a bit from his voice and Gwen wondered if it had something to do with his parents.
“Well it is done now and I am back to dodging their text messages,” Gwen said.
“They are still texting you?” Michael said, his humor returning.
“Yeah, Lisa wants me to help her plan the wedding.” Gwen was pleased to find that she sounded more amused than angry about it and she laughed with Michael.
“So now that your schedule is set, do you want to meet up?” Michael asked.
“Sure,” Gwen explained. “I was thinking the park would be good, since it is between where we both live and at the moment it is one of the few places I actually know the location of.”
“Haven’t you been here before?” he asked. “To visit your grandparents?”
“Nope,” she said. “This is my first visit.”
“Oh,” Michael replied. “Then at least I know you weren’t avoiding me. How about tomorrow around ten we meet in the park then.” He named a pak feature she was actually familiar with as she passed it on her morning run.
“I think that would work, bit let me check to make sure my grandmother doesn’t have any last minute plans.” Gwen went back into the living room and after being told she was clear, Gwen confirmed meeting up with Michael.
“Tomorrow would work,” she told him. “Grandmother has some sort of meeting that will run through lunch so I’m not expected to be anywhere.”
“Except in the park,” he said. “I’ll see you there.”
“See you,” Gwen said. They ended the call and Gwen felt really good about the possibility of seeing him. As she lowered the phone she remembered the three missed calls. Gwen started to check on them when there was a soft knock on the bedroom door. Gwen tossed the phone on the bed and went to answer it.
“Call finished?” Margaret asked.
“Yes,” Gwen replied.
“Good,” Margaret said. “I didn’t want to interrupt, but I have the dates and times I would like you to keep free and I thought it would be best to give them to you so you’d know when your schedule was free.”
“Thanks,” Gwen said. “That really helps.
Ten til Midnight 