“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 Cloverdale, New Mexico.
Animas, New Mexico | © Google Maps
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Abe winds down the passenger window of the pick-up.
“Hell, it’s hot out there. And where’s the people? I thought Mexicans were pouring over the border?”
He spits out a tobacco chaw, and winds the window up again. The aircon labours.
We bounce on tyre tracks in the dried mud, baked hard like concrete, making our guns rattle in the rack. It hasn’t rained here for months.
Abe suddenly sits up.
“Hey, that looks like the place. Over there.”
He points.
“Those stones? You sure?”
“Yup.”
I shrug and pull over.
We need a pallet truck to shift our load. Sweat trickles down my face, down my back; hell, I’m pretty much sweaty all over. I bark my knuckles on the door frame as we manoeuvre the container into the deserted store.
As we drive away, Abe texts our contact in Mexico.
“1000 litres water delivered to Old Store, Cloverdale.”
Autumn Leaves 
What a great feel this has to it, Penny. Love the voices of the characters, the description of the setting. It just feels right. Really wonderful
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. I’m glad the scene felt realistic.
With very best wishes
Penny
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My pleasure as always, Penny
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I’ll echo Lynn — I think you did a great job with the voice and the feel of this piece. Made me hot and parched just reading it!
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Dear Joy
Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. I’m glad the sense of oppressive heat came across.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Yes, Cloverdale’s close enough to the Mexican border. I’ve heard of folks leaving food and water for the immigrants crossing the border into the U.S.
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Dear James
Thank you for reading and commenting. It was the proximity of the border between Mexico and the USA that gave me the idea for the story.
With best wishes
Penny
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That’s a great story. I am expecting this is a waystation for border crossers? I wrote a screenplay called Coyotes that had a protagonist who set up stations.
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Dear Josh
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. It is indeed a way station for border crossers.
With best wishes
Penny
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Love where you took this, Penny. Most excellent!
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Dear Karen
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
It was one of those stories where chance played a part. I researched the location, cowboys, camp meetings, ghost towns etc. Inspiration? No. I went for a walk thinking about the topic. Exercise? Yes. Inspiration? No.
Last resort. Sit down and write.
Job done!
With very best wishes
Penny
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A gem of a story Penny – self-contained and satisfying to read. I gained a strong sense of place – the heat the drought, the emptiness, and the bizarreness of leaving one container for a whole desert.
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Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and for your very kind comment. I’m pleased you felt a strong sense of place.
With very best wishes
Penny
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