Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I’m a shoemaker, right? Just your average guy in Probolinggo, slinging shoes and fixing kicks. But today? Today was a whole different ball game.
I woke up late, as usual. My alarm? Yeah, it decided to take a day off. So, I’m rushing through breakfast, scarfing down some nasi pecel like it’s the last meal on Earth. You know how it is—gotta fuel up for the day. I live near Jalan Raya Probolinggo, so I can smell the street food from my window. Tempting, but I gotta hustle.
I finally get to my shop on Jalan Suroyo. It’s a cozy little place, but man, it’s like a sauna in there. I’m sweating like a pig, and it’s not even noon yet. I’m thinking, “Great, just what I need.” But then, boom! My first customer walks in. This dude, right? He’s got the wildest shoes I’ve ever seen. Like, who even wears neon green sneakers? I mean, c’mon! But hey, I’m not judging. I fix ‘em up, and he’s all smiles. That made me happy, ya know?
Then, outta nowhere, my buddy Rudi shows up. He’s always got some crazy story. Today, he’s ranting about how he saw a monkey steal a tourist’s hat at Alun-Alun Probolinggo. I’m cracking up! Like, who knew monkeys had such style? But then, he goes on about how the tourist freaked out. I can just picture it—this poor guy, running around like a headless chicken. Classic!
But then, the mood shifts. I get a call from my supplier. He’s late with my leather shipment. I’m fuming! I need that leather, man! I’ve got orders piling up. I’m pacing around my shop, muttering to myself. “Why can’t people just be on time?” It’s like, is it that hard?
After that, I decide to take a breather. I step outside, and the sun hits me like a ton of bricks. Probolinggo is buzzing! The market on Jalan Pahlawan is alive with vendors shouting, people haggling, and the smell of fried snacks wafting through the air. I love this city, but sometimes it’s just too much.
I grab a quick drink from a warung nearby. The owner, Bu Siti, is like a mom to me. She hands me a glass of es kelapa muda, and I swear, it’s like heaven in a cup. I’m sipping it, feeling the coolness wash over me, and suddenly, I’m happy again.
But then, I see it. A kid, maybe 10 years old, crying because he lost his toy. My heart sinks. I walk over, and I’m like, “Hey, buddy, what’s wrong?” He tells me about his toy car. So, I dig into my pocket and pull out a little keychain I had. It’s not much, but it’s something. His face lights up, and I’m like, “See? You’re good, man!” That made my day, for real.
Later, I head back to the shop, and guess what? My supplier finally shows up. He’s got my leather, but he’s also got a flat tire story. I’m like, “Dude, I don’t care! Just give me my stuff!” But I can’t stay mad. I mean, it’s Probolinggo, right? We all have our stories.
As the day winds down, I’m exhausted but satisfied. I’ve fixed a bunch of shoes, made some people smile, and even had a few laughs. I lock up the shop and stroll down Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, taking in the sights. The sunset is gorgeous, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
I think about how crazy today was. From the monkey hat thief to the crying kid, it’s all part of life here. Probolinggo, you wild city, you’ve got my heart. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!