“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the 360 degree view of the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page, from where you can also get the Inlinkz code.
Plaintive sea birds soared over the ocean, cutting long arcs through the air as they rode updrafts by the precipitous wall of the fort.
Carlos sat in one of the fort’s crenellations. The chance of a lifetime and he’d blown it. Alright, Massachusetts was cold; he couldn’t eat his favourite cocina criolla; he missed his family and friends. But surely he could have coped for three years? Instead, he’d missed lectures, eaten too little, and slept for hours during the day when he should have been studying. He’d been weak and failed his family.
He swung his legs over the edge and looked down at the waves breaking on the rocks.
A girl approached and coughed. She eased into the space beside Carlos, and swung her feet over the drop.
“This isn’t the answer, Carlos,” she said. “Come home. We need you.”
Hand in hand, brother and sister walked home.
Really excellent.. Often a single act of kindness is sufficient to keep someone from employing a permanent solution to a temporary problem. His sister knows him well.
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Yes, indeed she does. Thank you for your kind comment!
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wonderful post written by you..
glad to read this post and blog.. good luck
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Sameer. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
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Wonderful story. His hopelessness is as palpable as my relief at the end!
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Thank you, Karen. It was a very stimulating prompt this week!
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Oh so beautifully done Penny. Kudos.
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Dear Dahlia
Thank you so much for your kind comment.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Tragically too common in realy life. Lovely tale Penny
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for your kind comment. Depression makes all sorts of stupid things seem reasonable, and it’s all too common, as you say.
With warm best wishes
Penny
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a truly sad story. If someone is so desperate and depressed, it is really important that someone is there to help.
If he has missed his chance, for whatever reason, he has to go a different way, and in his despair the step back to the family is certainly the right one.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, marvel.
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A nice tale of redemption.
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Thank you, James. I’m so glad you used the word redemption, because I felt strongly that Carlos, supported by his family, would make a success of life, albeit not as a high-flying graduate of Harvard!
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I like the calmness his sister showed as she led him away from the brink.
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Thank you for the comment, Ali. Yes, I wanted her to be very down-to-earth and calm. I also showed her getting right alongside her brother, even going so far as to dangle her legs over the sheer drop. It’s very powerful when you’re in despair if someone really shows that you matter to them.
Best wishes
Penny
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