photo courtesy of cbcca 
Pegman this week takes us to Resolute Bay, remotest of Canada. Here’s my 150 word story.
PLACE WITH NO DAWN
Pa stares at the fire, face etched with adversity. Still wrapped around with cold outdoor air. Unaware of his son, alongside him by the fire.
” Pa…..pa…are you ok ? Are you angry ?”
” Huh ? Oh no, Jo, no son – was just thinking about Ma.”
“Tell me..”
“Your Ma died soon after we were brought here. Bitterly cold, only shacks to live in, scarce food. Her heart broke leaving Quebec. I’ll never forgive them for that “.
“Why did they bring us here ?”
“Our people were pawns in the cold, cold war.”
“What was the hardest part Pa ?”
“They stole our lives, our livelihoods, our futures”.
“What will I be when I grow up ?”
“My hope for you son is to leave here, and ….”
“Damn, power’s down, its a black-out…..who’s banging on our door ? What ? Snow blizzard’s on its way…lock down…fear the worst.”
August 30, 2018 at 4:16 am
It is unfortunate that people were forced to move to this part of Canada, which is a cold desert.
August 30, 2018 at 8:20 am
Thanks for your comment.
August 28, 2018 at 11:55 pm
Such a tragic story. I like how you told it through dialogue, that felt even more moving.
August 29, 2018 at 9:45 am
Thanks for your feedback Joy.
August 28, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Dear Francine,
Such a sad story. You brought the people and the injustice they suffered to life through the dialogue. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
August 28, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Thank you Rochelle- the true story of it was new too me – grim in so many ways. I wanted to do it justice.
August 28, 2018 at 5:18 am
Not one of Canada’s finest moments, that is for sure.
Really well done, Francine. I felt miserable reading this – for them. In so few words, you made us feel.
August 28, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Thanks Dale for your appreciation. Hard to imagine what it was like for them.
August 28, 2018 at 2:28 am
A well-told story through dialogue.
August 28, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Thank you Alicia. There’s something for me about the extreme terrain there that feels hostile, at least without modern technology.
August 28, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Thank you Alicia. There’s something for me about cold terrain there that feels hostile, unless there is some modern technology.
August 27, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Emotional and evocative. I love how you were able to work the circumstances in your piece. ‘Face etched with adversity’ is marvelous.
Not only did we pick the same title, we have a father and son. Kind of cool! I like it when that happens.
August 28, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Thanks so much Karen – glad you liked it. Funny isn’t it, to imagine in synch !
August 27, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Well I have to say that coming here I was a little prepared because I read some of your comments with other Pegman pieces – and I knew you shared the title with another entry.
I do like the different ways you used that title.
also, my favorite part of your fiction (in addition to the realistic pain that these folks likely experienced) I love how you ended with so much action.
we move from quiet reflecting and the dialogue to the hurried energy of the inclement weather !
August 28, 2018 at 1:10 pm
Appreciate your feedback, thanks. Glad you liked the pace change.
August 28, 2018 at 10:54 pm
🙂
August 27, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Well done for putting a human face on the desperate circumstances faced by those relocated to Resolute by the Canadian government in 1953.
August 28, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Thank you Penny, I’m glad to have created a human face within this story. It is what I wished to do.
August 27, 2018 at 2:55 pm
Such a sad period in Canadian history. A rel feeling of melancholy and fear for the future here. Well done
August 28, 2018 at 1:21 pm
Thank you so much Lynn. A sad period indeed.
August 30, 2018 at 2:08 pm
My pleasure 🙂