Today Pegman walks through Portal, ND
Mum told me the place was called Railway Avenue.
When I was a kid lying on my bunk, pillow wrapped round my head to block the shouting, I imagined what it was like. A countryside lane, maybe, with a redbrick station and a flower bed, the town name picked out in yellow begonias. Maybe the line had long closed, leaving the grass to grow tall between the sleepers, with only the field mice left to follow the old ways.
When she finally kicked me out, I packed a bag and hiked there just to see, just to know the place where I began. I found a truck stop, a rundown cafe surrounded by wide open tracts of churned up dirt grubby with engine oil.
It made me smile. I was sixteen and it seemed right that my life began somewhere where even hope couldn’t survive.
Written for What Pegman Saw, a great writing prompt inspired by Google Streetview. See here to join in and to read the other tales.
This is a lovely little piece imbued with youth and hope. Well done.
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Thank you Josh 🙂
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Breathtaking. A compelling character and a story ten miles deep. I want more!
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Ah, thank you! Not a good life for someone. I wonder if things improve for him? Thanks so much Karen 🙂
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Those truck stops really are miserable places. Sadly fitting for a troubled teen. Great description on the dream version, especially in contrast to the reality.
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Thank you Joy. Yes, it’s a bleak place isn’t it? Merely functional with few redeeming features at all, so a great prompt picture choice! 🙂
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I have been to many truck stops that were less bleak than that one, but none of them are places I’d want to “be from,” that’s for certain.
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Practical, but really ugly! 🙂
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What magical lines are these : my life began somewhere where even hope couldn’t survive.
Great characterisation, leaves me salivating for more, Lynn.
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Ah, thank you so much Neel. What a lovely comment! Thank you for reading 🙂
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pillow wrapped round my head to block the shouting – this line says so very much!
When she finally kicked me out – this one even more
then boom – it seemed right that my life began somewhere where even hope couldn’t survive
This piece is stunning all the way around.
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Ah, thank you so much Alicia! That means a great deal for you to say so. Many thanks 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
Stellar descriptions as always. Love the irony between what he imagined and reality. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much Rochelle 🙂
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I think he will do just fine – he’s been prepared for life’s hardships and has the imagination to rise above the ugliness. Loved this piece!
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Thanks so much. Really lovely of you 🙂
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