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Return to Botswana – What Pegman Saw

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I was totally unsatisfied with my story so did a little re-write – For those of you who did not read it before, the comments may make less sense!

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I was going to say, Good Monday Evening… but it’s already past midnight so, officially Tuesday here in my neck of the woods.  I’ve been trying to write this little story since Saturday morning but kept changing it and then life got in the way.   So, I hope you don’t mind my very late entry (again) this week!

This week Pegman takes us deep in the heart of Southern Africa, to Botswana. You’ll find both streetview and photospheres within its borders. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to write a 150-word story, poem, essay, article, screenplay, song, or limerick. Bonus points if you can write a 150-word haiku.

Feel free to wander within the borders of Botswana and chose your own slice of inspiration. Or, you can use the photo provided with the prompt.

NOTE: In putting together this post, I wound up browsing the photospheres in the safari country in Northern Botswana. I saw amazing things I’ve never seen anywhere else. So what I’m trying to tell you is the intrepid searcher will be rewarded by poking around up here. It’s a treasure chest of inspiration.

Once your piece is polished, share it with others using the Linkup below. Reading and commenting on others’ work is part of the fun.

All are welcome! Please consider joining this international group of globe-trotting writers.

Return to Botswana

“We’re moving back to Botswana,” Munira told me.

“Why?  We were just starting to get to know each other.  What about the kids?”

“They are staying behind.  They are all in college or university.  They don’t want to be uprooted and neither do I.”

After twenty-five years of living in Canada, her husband felt he needed to return to his home, to his family.  Munira didn’t want to go and leaving her kids behind was pure torture but as a good wife…

“Don’t worry, my friend.  We are here if they need us.  For anything.  Put your worries aside.”

“I know.  It’s one of the only reasons I can allow myself to be dragged away.”

“It’s probably best if you do leave.  I think I may have ended up being a bad influence on you,” I said with a wink.

“Shoot!  That’s an extra reason to not want to leave…”

 

59 thoughts on “Return to Botswana – What Pegman Saw”

  2. Q,

    A bad influence? No way! 🙂

    I must admit, as a loyal reader, I am always on my toes when it comes to your entries. I never know which way you’re going to take us . . which makes for the kind of adventure that reading is all about.

    Peace and pen pals

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Dear Dale,

    Perhaps she should stay. 😉 The dialogue is crisp as always, but I’ll admit to being a tad confused by what’s actually happening here. Perhaps I’m dense and need another cup of coffee.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rochelle,

      Nah. You’re far from dense. I wrote and re-wrote and posted anyway. I should not have. After 25 years, of living in Canada, the parents moved back to Botswana, leaving the kids behind…

      Like

        • Dear Rochelle,

          I am so glad you “spoke up” and gave me the noodge I needed – because I was not satisfied with my story…

          Thank you, Teacher!

          Dale xoxo

          Like

  6. Friends are rarely bad influences, no matter what they say! Nice story, Dale, with plenty of ambiguity to allow the reader to read between the lines.
    Were you intending the dialogue to be read as between two women, or between a man and a woman? It came across to me as between a man and a woman, as it seemed a little flirtatious.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. And a grin at the end. But while reading it I was thinking how often this must happen. Not necessarily a move to another country, but to a different region. Then I thought back that Britain (and America and Canada) was settled by people who left families and friends behind. For millennia this story has repeated. Nice one, Dale.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. ‘Bad Influence’ would make a good ice cream name for an undisclosed sinful flavour.

    Safe from predators and insanity, I frequently google streetview all parts of Africa, more so than fancy spancy images. Your right though, awesomeness is just on the other side of the digital fence.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I like that… sinfully flavoured ice cream…

      I was gonna choose a wild image but figured most would. My friend lives in a gated hoity toity ‘hood so…

      Indeed. Awesomeness is just on the other side of the digital fence (love that)

      Like

  12. Real decadence, is knowingly making bad choices fly before the wings get clipped by old age and indifference. Vive la décence! ….if only in dreams and hushed tones. Life is tenuous as events this week have proven.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Then in that case, I’m all for decadence… did you mean décadence? And, yes dreams and hushed tones and maybe an occasional real event.

      And unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I know all too well how tenuous life is… makes you realise that you must jump at opportunities…

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      • I ‘know’ Botswana so well because of Alexander McCall Smith’s books…. I must have the largest collection of his very proliferous writings outside of Scotland 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

          • Oh yes, do – although now, some 15-20yrs later – I read him mostly because I ‘just like his style very much’. He is ALWAYS KIND, thoughtful and it’s ‘easy reading’ when you don’t want to work your grey cells overly much. Fine stuff….

            Liked by 1 person

          • You know what I think? A good mix of “work your grey cells” must be balanced with some “fluff”… so I am very glad to know this. I did the historical romance – major no brains required – but now need other types of fluff… 😉

            Liked by 1 person

          • totally agree. Said to HH today that I am doing so much difficult sudoku stuff to keep my ‘grey windings’ in good shape. The older I get the more I need to be sure to keep my brain wide awake….. yes, AMcS IS really good reading, but you don’t have to be an Einstein which is such a relief to know 😉

            Liked by 1 person

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