THE NINE

Rosa Maria watched Alejandro throw open the shutters.

On the corner of Calle 9 and Avenue 5, they were open for business. Alejandro looked at his madre.

This time he would make her proud. Her husband murdered, they had fled from Tijuana. Rosa Maria had scraped together what she could until she had enough to open the small restaurant.

‘La Nueve‘ for the street, but also la nuevo for the new start, Alejandro,’ she kissed him and headed inside. Alejandro had never seen her happier.

Across the street sat a white pickup. Inside sat two men. Their shoulders and arms were covered in the markings of the Tijuana cartel. One of the men spoke into a ‘phone.

‘We’ve found them. What do you want us to do?’ A voice spoke two words and hung up. The man with the ‘phone nodded to the other man. They got out of the pickup and started walking towards ‘La Nueve.’

Written for ‘What Pegman Saw’, a weekly prompt based on a view from Google Maps. The idea is to write a piece of fiction of around 150 words based on the prompt. Full details can be found HERE. This week we’re in Mexico City.

Note: nueve = nine; nuevo = new.

For more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

22 thoughts on “THE NINE”

Ve-ery powerful Iain. Well done

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Iain Kelly says:

11/02/2017 at 1:46 PM

Thanks Shehanne

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Excellent. The cartel did indeed cast a long shadow, though my Mexican friends make fun of me for my cartel-centric view. Too many episodes of Narcos, maybe.

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Iain Kelly says:

11/02/2017 at 2:27 PM

I agree, I think the problem is outside of Mexico those are the only stories we hear on TV, films (Sicario is excellent) and in books.

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OH NO! You can’t leave us hanging like that. 🙂
Great story, tugged at the emotions.

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Iain Kelly says:

11/02/2017 at 2:44 PM

Thanks Joy. I’ve still to decide what happens next…

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1. joyroses13 says:
  
  11/02/2017 at 2:52 PM
  
  Rosa Maria comes out of the restaurant and blows them away ! There you go… LOL!
  
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2. Iain Kelly says:
  
  11/02/2017 at 2:55 PM
  
  That’s one possible ending definitely! 🙂
  
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