Flash fiction is a valuable training tool for all writers. It helps promote clarity and precision by forcing the writer to be succinct.
This week WHAT PEGMAN SAW travels to North Korea. Be very careful of what you say to whom you say it.
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.
Many thanks for hosting this challenge to Karen Rawson and and J Hardy Carroll .
For this week’s challenge I revisited a Friday Fictioneers piece I posted two years ago, added 50 words and gave it a new title.
Genre: Realistic, Historical and All-Too-Current Fiction
Word Count: 150
ASLEEP IN THE LIGHT
At thirteen Myung Hee was three years older than the rest of my students. Despite my many scoldings, they laughed at her and called her babo.
One day I found her weeping in the schoolyard.
“What’s wrong, gongjunim?”
“I’m not princess.” A single tear trickled down her cheek. “I feel sorry for these children. They are not understand. In time a heart beats this light can be snatched from them.”
I tried to hug her but she pulled back. Her swollen eyes, old beyond their years, pierced my heart.
“My baby brother and I escaped Kim Jong-il’s prison camp, but two days later I buried him in the desert with only the stars to see. I thought South Korea would be the center of my dreams, but they lie with my brother in darkness.”
Myung Hee’s words resonated deep within me and, in that moment, the teacher became the student.
Okay, I admit that I used the same photo as the prompt for my story, but I didn’t read any of your content before crafting my tale. Yours is so poignant. South Korea wasn’t the pinnacle of her dreams but perhaps in time she’ll learn to make a new life.
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Dear James,
Sadly this is the common story for many refugees. The even sadder part is that while South Korea is so close, it’s so heavily guarded that these people must leave through China. I think Myung-Hee will make a new life for herself as evidenced by the many testimonies I’ve heard. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Haunting, sad, and beautiful story. Gave me goosebumps!
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Dear Karen,
No charge for the goosebumps. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So sad but yet hopeful. Good writing as always, Rochelle. I remember that film clip of the guitar-playing children. I don’t want to know the learning process for children that age. I wonder if they ever get to play. —- Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
That film clip has been floating around for sometime, along with many others of its ilk. I don’t imagine those children were allowed much playtime. The expressions on their faces are just this side of eerie. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
So beautifully written, as is now expected of you 😉
Like Suzanne, I cannot help but wonder what kind of life those children in the video have.
Lotsa love
Dale
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Dear Dale,
My guess is that those children don’t have much of a life. Thank you re my story. It’s a recycle. 😉 But it fit the picture and I got to add 50 words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sure they don’t.
And you did it so well.
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Excellent story. I like the narrator’s humility in the last line. Emotionally vivid.
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Thank you, Josh, 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember this story and the thoughts I had then haven’t changed. They had to have been forced from the moment they could hold the guitar. No other life. Sad.
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Dear Jan,
Fifty more words to the story…a little fleshing out. The video is still spooky. Thanks for reading.
Rochelle
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Such a poignant tale. Myung Hee is wise beyond her years.
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Dear Magarisa,
I base Myung Hee on a woman I heard who shared her experience before escaping North Korea. She had seen her first public execution by the time she turned 7. I suspect Myung Hee did, too. Definitely wise beyond her years. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story, but so sad.
I enjoyed the clip of the robots playing guitars. Or children. Whatever. Poor kids.
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Dear Ali,
They do look like robots, don’t they. Painted smiles. 😦 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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sad, sad, sad, – a part of the world where there is no light.
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Dear Valerie,
So many of the stories I’ve heard speak of the literal darkness in North Korea. Makes me shudder. Thank you so much for coming by. That makes me happy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yank my heartstrings, why don’t ya? A sad, sad story, well-told. Such a hidden culture, one can only imagine the reality… and some of us have seen enough that we don’t need too much of the imagination factor. Hate to say, Great story, but it is.
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Dear Jelli,
I understand. It’s not a pretty story. Unfortunately it’s true for too many. A sinister spirit rests on that culture. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have tears in my eyes, Rochelle. You bring the plight of all refugees to light so poignantly.
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Dear Kelvin,
Tears are the best compliment you could give for this story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s a moving story, Rochelle. Even if she makes a life for herself in South Korea, she will always be an exile from her people. She buried a part of herself along with her dreams.
Shalom
Penny
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Dear Penny,
Trauma such as Myung Hee’s tends to leave a permanent trench in the heart. 😦 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An extremely moving piece. Sadly mirrors real life close enough. Kudos.
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So sad, you tell it so beautifully. Loved the last line. I learn so much from your historic fictions. Thanks.
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