Timed Free Write: Mouse

Today is another 5 minute timed free write challenge, which you can see on TikTok. I plucked a prompt from my jar and set a timer for 5 minutes, then wrote whatever story came to mind. For today, I'm giving myself a 4/10 because there are some strange sentences, and irrelevant dialogue, as well as a "crutch" for getting a character out of trouble. However, I think the imagery is good and the setting is intriguing. Without further ado...

Zenny waited for her brother at the large wooden table in the kitchen, watching the clock on the way move its hands slower than the way syrup drips out of the trees ion a cold morning. He'd been gone from the cottage for nearly a week, and she eagerly waited to hear about his trip to Mr. Forsythe, up in the Great North Woods.

It was early morning, earlier than she knew he'd return, but she was excited, and had woken up early. She couldn't go back to sleep, so she decided to get up, go downstairs, and wait. The morning was silent, except for the skit, skit, skitting of her mouse friend Ardwen who lived in the walls.

Zenny murmured, "Me, too..." as Ardwen's tiny paws scratched and tickled their way, getting louder as he moved through the wall towards the opening under the table, hidden by a piece of wood Zenny kept there to prevent her mother noticing.

Arden climbed up the table leg and perched beside Zenny...