Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a barista in Asola is like riding a rollercoaster, but today? Today was a freakin’ wild ride.
So, I roll into work at Caffè Centrale on Via Roma, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First customer walks in. This dude, I swear, he looks like he just rolled outta bed. Hair all over the place, wearing flip-flops in October. Like, bro, it’s Asola, not a beach party! He orders a triple espresso, no sugar. I’m like, “You sure you don’t want a donut with that?” He just glares at me. Okay, fine, no donut.
Then, boom! The power goes out. Just like that. I’m standing there, all confused, like a deer in headlights. The lights flicker, and I’m thinkin’, “Great, now I gotta make coffee with a candle.” But then, the locals start laughing. They’re used to this. “Ah, Asola’s charm!” they say. Yeah, charm my ass.
After a few minutes, the power comes back. Thank goodness! I’m back to grinding beans like a madman. But then, the line gets longer. I mean, it’s like Via Garibaldi during the market day. People are getting impatient. I can feel the tension.
This one lady, she’s all like, “I ordered a cappuccino 10 minutes ago!” I’m like, “Lady, I’m not a magician!” But I whip it up, and she’s all smiles. I guess coffee really is magic.
Then, outta nowhere, my buddy Marco strolls in. He’s got this huge grin, and I’m like, “What’s up, man?” He tells me he just got a promotion at the factory on Via Mazzini. I’m pumped for him! We high-five, and I’m like, “Drinks on you tonight!”
But then, the mood shifts. This guy walks in, looking all shady. He’s got a hoodie up, and I’m like, “Uh-oh, what’s this dude up to?” He orders a black coffee, but he’s eyeing the tip jar. I’m sweating bullets. I’m thinking, “Please don’t rob me, bro.”
He leaves, and I’m like, “Phew!” But then, I check the tip jar. It’s EMPTY! I’m fuming. “Who steals from a barista?” I shout. The regulars just chuckle. “Welcome to Asola!” they say. Yeah, thanks for the warm welcome, guys.
Finally, the day winds down. I’m cleaning up, and I see this little kid outside. He’s trying to catch a pigeon on Via Cavour. I can’t help but laugh. Kids are hilarious. I remember doing that when I was little.
As I close up, I take a moment. The streets of Asola are quiet now. The lights are twinkling, and I can hear the distant sound of laughter from a nearby trattoria. I think about how crazy today was. The ups, the downs, the weirdos.
I love this city. It’s got its quirks, for sure. But it’s home. And tomorrow? Tomorrow’s another day in Asola. Bring it on!