“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using 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. This week’s prompt is Resolute, Canada, which is located in the High Arctic.
“What Pegman Saw” is a terrific challenge because the modest amount of research you need to do will broaden your understanding of how people react under all sorts of circumstances. And that, of course, is the life blood of any writer! If you haven’t tried it, do give it a go!
Resolute, NU, Canada | © Google Maps
The Mountie
The school building stood in a grey, gritty landscape by a grey, gritty road. The July sun did little to dispel the cold.
Ross Gibson, formerly of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and now Resolute’s schoolteacher, glanced up at his class working studiously at their desks. Immediately a pupil raised his hand.
“Sir, may I go to the lavatory?”
Craig. It would be. It always was.
Ross gestured and Craig left the classroom, a smirk on his face. Ross followed him silently. Cigarette smoke crept pungent under the toilet door. As Craig emerged, Ross held out his hand. Craig scowled and handed over a packet of cigarettes.
“You ever been seal hunting?” asked Ross.
“No, Sir.”
“Come with me this Saturday.”
Craig looked startled, then nodded. He stopped slouching and stood taller.
Ross grinned to himself. The Mountie always got his man – but it took the teacher to reform him!
Autumn Leaves 
Ross sounds like the best sort of teacher. You’ve efficiently and expertly set the scene and then brought these two characters and their desires to life. I think Craig is in good hands!
Thanks also for the encouragement to your readers on Pegman. I’d like to add that research is not a prerequisite. Writers are free to envision new or different worlds inspired by the weeks’ location.
That said, I’ve uncovered so many fascinating places and people via Pegman. For me, it’s been both instructive and entertaining. Plus, I’ve met so many great and generous writers here!
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Dear Karen
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you feel I brought the characters to life.
I would love to see more people participate in Pegman – it’s such an excellent challenge! Thank you for organising it every week.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Ditto that! It is a wonderful challenge.
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I also agree that it is an excellent challenge – and what I love is the freedom to pick a picture of our own – even if we choose to use the one suggested – so we get that choice – but then we see the many takes on the “same” location. And Pegman challenge is helping me know my geography better – yes – so I love it – and thanks to k and J
🙂
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Love this portrait. And the cigarette smoke from the lav. Well done.
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Dear Josh
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the portrait.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Charming tale of a truly caring teacher.
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Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. I think Ross was the sort of man who had a secret sympathy for a ‘bad lad’! He certainly knew he needed to be challenged to do well!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Sounds like Ross has a great approach to dealing with the underlying problems of the situation, instead of just punishing the symptoms — an excellent skill for both teachers and Mounties! Nicely written.
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Dear Joy
Thank you for reading and commenting. Ross recognised the importance of offering a legitimate challenge to replace Craig’s rather silly rebellion of sneaking away for a defiant cigarette. I’m glad you thought the story was nicely written.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Yes, that came through very clearly. Nice!
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Wonderful, Penny! Would that more teachers were like him!
And I agree with you. I am way more inclined (though not this week) to actually do research as the regions chosen are so interesting and often totally unknown to me.
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Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m a big fan of good teachers!
Yes, the research for Pegman is always fascinating. This week, for instance, Wikipedia had a throwaway line about how Ross Gibson a former officer with the RCMP became the new settlements teacher; Bingo!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Right? Love that we find all sorts of snippets..
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Your heartwarming story gave a smile of satisfaction….. Kindness prevails….
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Dear Ivor
Thank you for reading, and for your lovely comment. Would that we could have kindness prevail in the world as easily as we can achieve it on the page!
With very best wishes
Penny
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What a lovely story, going straight to my teacher’s heart!
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Dear Righteousbruin
Thank you for reading and commenting.
You’re a teacher? Wonderful. One of the most important jobs there is. You have my respect and admiration.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Dear Penny
You put a smile on my fac. No mean feat this morning, I would say. Such a cliche to finish with, yet so unpredictable – which is good. I also liked the repetition in the opening paragraph of grey and gritty – really sets the scene. And your comment in your introduction about life blood to any reader. So true, So true, Read, read, read; comment, comment, comment – that’s the way!
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Dear Kelvin
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I’m delighted to have made you smile on what sounds like it was a pretty trying day. You know what? I am so pleased you commented on the cliché at the end. I wondered whether I’d done enough to make Ross ‘own’ the cliché so I would get away with using it – it just becomes part of the character’s voice. So, yay, it worked!
I pray you have a good week, Kelvin!
Penny
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Thank you. 🙏🏻🦋
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My fac and my face, Penny!!
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Teehee! Typos are so entertaining!
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Penny! This is so good. I love the teacher’s approach to bringing a little self-confidence to this student. Lovely work.
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Dear Lish
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story so much!
With very best wishes
Penny
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Love the way you create the boy and his teacher, setting up the notion of punishment. Then reveal the kindness and optimism of the teacher instead – so positive. Nice one Penny.
Regarding the Pegman challenge, I enjoy the research into places new to me – been to some amazing places already ?
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Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the optimistic tone of my story. I think school-teachers do one of the hardest and most valuable jobs in the world – it’s not one I could do!
With best wishes
Penny
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I like Ross – he seems like the ideal teacher to me and I’m sure his time in the Mounties has helped him teach teenage boys! There’s little that will surprise or shock him. You’ve drawn him with a deft touch, saying little but giving us a feeling of his steadying, calm influence. Nicely done, Penny
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and commenting. When you say “You’ve drawn him with a deft touch, saying little but giving us a feeling of his steadying, calm influence.” I feel really encouraged. Learning how to convey more by implication than by telling is one of the techniques I’m working on.
With very best wishes
Penny
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It worked really well here, Penny. His character came through clearly
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first 0 LOVED that opening line:
stood in a grey, gritty landscape by a grey, gritty road
it sat so well in my mind and was refreshing – in a way that playful words can be.
–
and I was expecting to maybe have the kid “pee on an ice block” or go to a restroom igloo because I was reading a site where someone said this is what they did in certain areas during their journey to the Arctic.
But i like where you went – with the smoke under the door –
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Dear Yvette
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked where I went with the story. Thank you for specifically mentioning “stood in a grey, gritty landscape by a grey, gritty road”. As description, I only needed one grey and one gritty, but I doubled up for reasons of style. I couldn’t pinpoint why it worked, but it felt right, and for at least one reader I now know that it was indeed right!
With very best wishes
Penny
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was right indeed– although – dear Penny – I am more prone to use the spelling of gray with the a – but i was able to get past that – (just kidding)
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This is excellent! Love the way you brought the characters to life. When I was doing a little research before writing I read about Ross being the first teacher and found it very interesting that he went from mountie to teacher.
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Dear Kelley
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. I’m glad you think I brought the characters to life.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Dear Penny,
Your story made me smile and smile some more. I echo your other commentors…praise well deserved, my dear. That last line is brilliant.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I can’t help myself when it comes to research. More often than not my stories are the result of the Google trail. 😉
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and for your lovely comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the story so much!
Your stories are the result of the Google trail, you say. Yes, but they’re also the result of a warm heart, and keen observation both of place and character. An irresistible mix!
Shalom
Penny
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I guess you can take theman out of the Mounties, but you cant take the Mounties out of the man! This well-matched duo’s interaction really portrayed teaching at its best. Im only sorry that fewer teachers are willing to go that extra mile these days, for fear of having it backfire on them in some way. Young men can be tough to inspire, and i think the Mountie found the perfect challenge. Well written as always, penny.
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Dear Andi
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you liked the way the Mountie challenged Craig to inspire him.
With best wishes
Penny
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Nice articulation of difference between a police and a teacher.
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Dear Abhiray
Thank you for reading and commenting.
With best wishes
Penny
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