This is my fourth week taking the challenge. Perhaps it’s the lure of 50 extra words or the fun of choosing from a smorgasbord of photos. In any event, I’m back for more. Many thanks the Karen Rawson for hosting. Below are the instructions to join in:
Google Street View of Burhhanpur
Feel free to stroll around using the Google street view and grab any picture you choose to include in your post.
To enjoy stories inspired by the What Pegman Saw prompt or to submit your own 150-word story, visit the inLinkz button:
For guidelines and rules for the What Pegman Saw weekly writing prompt, visit the home page.
I must confess that I’ve taken a former Friday Fictioneers flash fiction and tweaked it. Originally it was called ROYAL CONCESSION. It was fun to have the luxury of expanding it and changing it up a bit.
Word Count: 150
Genre: Realistic Fiction
NOBLESSE OBLIGE
Ellen grabbed the remote, turned off the television and climbed onto Jeff’s lap. “Tell me a story, Daddy.”
After countless life-or-death decisions and run-ins with EMT coworkers, his back and shoulders throbbed. The last fatality was Ellen’s age, a boy who breathed his last in Jeff’s arms.
He took back the remote. “Later, Doodle-bug.”
With five-year-old persistence, Ellen settled against his chest. “Once upon a time, in a castle in faraway India, lived a maharaja and his bee-yoo-tee-ful little princess. Your turn, Daddy.”
Her dark eyes held him prisoner. The remote slipped from his fingers. “Okay. The castle was called Shahi Qila. They rode jeweled elephants and swam in the Tapti River. Your turn, Doodles. What happened next?”
“They…” her voice faded into a yawn and her eyelids drooped.
Jeff’s taut muscles eased. He stroked her silken curls, kissed the top of her head and whispered, “…lived happily ever after.”
Ah, this is so good Rochelle. The witheld restraint on Dad’s behalf, after such a hard day filled with death and despair, he’s still bewitched by the love of his daughter. Lovely story and feels very real and genuine
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Dear Lynn,
Little ones have a way of putting things into perspective, don’t they? Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My absolute pleasure – a lovely story 🙂
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Wonderful story, Rochelle. I have done the same radical editing with my daughters’ bedtime stories many times. Little did I know how much I would miss them later.
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Dear J Hardy,
I remember feeling pressed when my sons would insist on a bedtime story, thinking all I wanted to do was sleep. I, too, miss those times. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle I’m so thrilled you joined the prompt again. I love your storytelling. And your story-telling of story-telling this week was about the sweetest thing I’ve read in ages. A tender tale.
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PS That shot you picked is amazing.
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Dear Karen,
I love the freedom of choice in Pegman. Glad you liked the photo and my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember this one and how good it was.
That picture. Where did you get it?
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Dear Cuzzin Notnek,
Go to the top of the page and you’ll find the directions. On the Google Map site there’s more than one picture to choose. This morning it occurred to me that the photo I’d chosen was the perfect prompt to use in revisiting an oldie but goodie. Thanks for swinging by.
Shalom,
Cyzzin Shelley
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Cool, right with ya, “Cyz.” 😀
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Typos is us. 😉
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A good story of the ups and downs of life and how a brief moment from a child puts it in perspective. Love the ending.
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Dear Jan,
Hard to remember our boys at that age, isn’t it? Glad you liked and took the time to say so.
Love,
Rochelle
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I could feel it, that’s as good as it gets. 🙂
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Thank you, Bridget. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sweet story. Sometimes the cure for too much death is life.
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Dear Trent,
Wonderful comment. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely take Rochelle, really liked their relationship and the use of the prompt location. Well done.
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Dear Iain,
This was one of my favorite FF stories so it was fun to revisit and rework. I’m so glad it worked. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
There’s something so touching about this story. I think Ellen is Daddy’s life-raft that keeps him sane and from sinking into the abyss; his ray of light that dilutes the dark.
A beautiful piece of writing.
All best wishes
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
What a wonderful summary of what I did indeed have in mind. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I could almost sense the cares and pain of the day easing its way out. Lovely story, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
I’m so happy to see you here this week. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to eke an extra one out, but there’s less pressure when you’re not the ringmaster. 😉 Thank you for such a sweet comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was lovely Rochelle. Many years ago when we were struggling to cope with a serious illness in the house, the only thing that kept me sane was my 2 yr old nephew who’s bobbing head and bright smile which clearly said – life is great and i am so happy to see you arent you? I drew so much strength from his joie de vivre – in fact it is one of my favorite things 🙂
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Dear Dahlia,
That’s how it is with children–they either drive you crazy or keep you sane. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is true! Thanks Rochelle 🙂
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Loved this.
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Thank you, Passionate Dreamer.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nicely done. Enjoyed.
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Thank you, Roger. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Somehow I could smell that fun little girl smell of crayons and shampoo.You brought both the child and father to life. Well done, again!!!
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Dear Alicia,
Two of my favorite scents–shampoo in a child’s hair and crayons. (I’ve been known to open a box of Craylolas and just sniff.) Thank you for such a lovely comment that’s evocative on its own.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a sweet story! Very touching.
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Thank you, Debra. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was truly beautiful, Rochelle. Thank goodness for little girls…bringing life into perspective
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Dear Dale,
I’m glad you thought so. Sometimes it pays to take and old story and expand it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Awe. Best game ever to share with a child. My boys are gifted story tellers in their own right now. This made me smile,
Tracey
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Dear Tracey,
Always happy here when a story of mine gives a smile. I’m glad you caught the game aspect. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It seems his daughter is a balm for the horrors he’s seen. Children can be like that. A beautiful scene, Rochelle! 🙂
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Dear Eric,
Children can make all things seem right indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very sweet story. 🙂
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Thank you, Jessie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sweet story.. sometimes it takes the love of a child to put things into perspective! 🙂 ❤
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Dear Courtney,
They do have a way, don’t they? Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely one.
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Thank you, Hilary. 😀
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