Mamá Renata lifted the washing basket and hobbled down the stairs. She looked out onto the cobbled street.

Javi was there, running around with the other niños in the dusty sunshine. Señor Augusto swept his step.

A Moorish Gecko skittered down a shaded wall and across the street.

‘Javi, diez minutos,’ Mamá Renata called. Her grandson waved.

An alien sound stirred. A growing growl, mixed with loud, sharp cracking thuds.

Renata dropped the basket. ‘Javi, rápido!’ she beckoned him inside. His friends scattered. The gecko flitted into a crack in a wall. Señor Augusto ducked inside and closed his window shutters.

The noise exploded as a motorcycle flew down the hill and disappeared round the corner. A car followed, gunfire emanating from the passenger window, orange sparks flying, accelerating in pursuit.

And then the street was quiet again. The gecko poked his head out from the wall, Señor Augusto opened his window.

‘Diez minutos,’ Renata reminded Javi as he ran out to greet his excited friends.

Mamá Renata picked up the washing basket and headed to the courtyard.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story or poem in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.