Spanish Holiday ~ (300 Word Flash)

 Spanish Holiday ~ (300 Word Flash)

By Bob French

Their friends told them that to take a holiday in Spain during the civil war was not only cheap, but dangerous. Regardless of the warnings, Alice and Thomas bought their train tickets to Barcelona in search of the heat, adventure, culture, and the wine.

          Their hotel in Barcelona, a once grand but now crumbling building, was the perfect mix of mystery and charm.  Most nights they simply wandered off into the ancient parts of the city.  On some nights the locals who quickly befriended them warned them that as foreigners, not to go to certain parts of the city, but to them, the world seemed as vibrant as the beautiful hanging plants that cascaded down from tall buildings.

          One evening while exploring the narrow winding streets of east Barcelona, they met a young man who insisted on showing them a traditional Spanish evening. They willingly followed him until the sound of castanets and guitars lured them down a narrow candlelit alleyway to a quaint taberna. They noted that the taberna owner was not too pleased at seeing them, and nodded them to a table in the back of the café.  Once the dancers started their flamenco everyone seemed to join in. 

       Suddenly, the doors were kicked in, whistles were being blown, followed by total panic. Before Alice and Thomas realised what was happening, they were arrested and thrown into jail. The following morning, after some rigorous interrogation, the officer declared that they were fifth colonist spies and would be dealt with accordingly.

          As the church bells sounded ten o’clock, they were blindfolded and escorted out into the back garden.  They felt the warm sun on their faces and the tranquil sound of the birds in the trees.

Then they heard the order. “Fire!” 

Copyright Bob French ~ December 2025