Man, what a day! I swear, being a cashier in Casalecchio-di-Reno is like riding a rollercoaster with no seatbelt. So, I roll into work at the supermarket on Via Marconi, right? It’s a chill morning, sun’s shining, birds are chirping. I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be easy-peasy.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it was NOT.
First customer walks in. This dude, I swear, he’s got a cart full of stuff. Like, who needs 10 packs of pasta? We’re not in a zombie apocalypse, bro! Anyway, he’s fumbling around, can’t find his wallet. I’m standing there, tapping my foot, thinking, “C’mon, man, I got a line forming!” Finally, he finds it, but then he drops it. Classic. Wallet goes flying, coins everywhere. I’m like, “Really? Is this a comedy show?”
Then, outta nowhere, this lady storms in. She’s on a mission. I mean, she’s got that look, you know? Like she’s ready to take on the world. She’s yelling about some discount that’s not working. I’m just standing there, trying to keep my cool. “Ma’am, it’s not my fault the system’s glitchy.” But she’s not having it. She’s waving her receipt like it’s a flag of war. I’m just thinking, “Chill, lady, it’s just a few euros!”
After that, I finally get a breather. I’m ringing up this sweet old lady from Via dei Mille. She’s got a smile that could light up the whole city. We chat about the weather, and she tells me about her garden. I’m like, “Aww, that’s nice!” It’s moments like these that make the job worth it. But then, BAM! The power goes out. Just my luck, right? The whole store goes dark. People are freaking out, and I’m just standing there like, “Great, now I’m a cashier in a horror movie.”
So, we’re all waiting for the lights to come back on. I’m trying to keep the mood light. I crack a joke about how we should start a candlelight vigil for the cash register. No one laughs. Tough crowd. Finally, the lights flicker back on, and I’m like, “Thank you, sweet electricity!” But then, the register won’t work. Ugh! I’m ready to pull my hair out.
Then, this kid runs in, right? He’s got ice cream all over his face. I mean, it’s like a crime scene. He’s laughing, and I can’t help but smile. Kids are the best. But then, his mom comes in, and she’s all stressed out. She’s like, “Where’s my son?” I’m like, “Uh, he’s right here, ma’am.” She looks relieved, but then she sees the mess. Oof. I’m just standing there, thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this!”
By the end of my shift, I’m exhausted. I walk out onto Via Porrettana, and it’s like a whole different world. The sun’s setting, and the sky’s all pink and orange. I take a deep breath, and it hits me. Casalecchio-di-Reno is beautiful. I mean, yeah, it’s chaotic, but it’s home. I see the Reno River flowing, and I’m reminded of all the good stuff. The parks, the people, the little cafes where I grab my espresso.
I head to my favorite spot, a little gelato place on Via dei Mille. I order a scoop of pistachio, and it’s like heaven in a cone. I sit there, watching the world go by. Kids playing, couples laughing, old folks chatting. It’s the simple things, you know?
So yeah, today was a wild ride. I laughed, I cried (not really, but you get it), and I survived another day as a cashier in this crazy town. Casalecchio-di-Reno, you’re a handful, but I wouldn’t trade you for anything.