Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a sharpener in San-Sebastiano-al-Vesuvio ain’t for the faint-hearted. Woke up, sun blazin’ through my window. Thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I hit the streets. You know, Via Roma, where all the action is. I’m walkin’ down, mindin’ my own business, when I see this old dude, Signor Giuseppe, tryin’ to fix his bike. Poor guy’s got more tools than sense. I’m like, “Hey, Giuseppe, need a hand?” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “I’m good, I’m good!” Classic Giuseppe.
So, I keep strollin’. The smell of fresh pizza from Pizzeria Da Michele hits me. I swear, it’s like heaven in a slice. But I gotta focus. Gotta sharpen those knives for the market. I’m on a mission, right?
Then, bam! I trip over a loose cobblestone on Via San Sebastiano. Like, seriously? Who’s in charge of this place? I’m about to lose it. I’m yellin’, “Fix your streets, people!” But no one cares. Just another day in the city, I guess.
Finally, I get to my little shop. It’s cozy, you know? A bit cramped, but it’s mine. I set up my tools, ready to work. First customer rolls in. It’s Maria, the butcher’s wife. She’s got this huge knife, all dull and sad. I’m like, “What happened to this beauty?” She shrugs, “Too many steaks.” I laugh, but inside, I’m thinkin’, “Girl, you gotta take better care of your stuff!”
As I’m sharpenin’, I hear this commotion outside. I peek out, and there’s a parade! Like, what? In San-Sebastiano? I didn’t even know we had parades! Turns out, it’s some local festival. People are dancin’, music blarin’. I’m feelin’ the vibe, you know? I step outside, knife in hand, and join the fun.
But then, outta nowhere, this kid runs by and knocks my sharpener over. I’m like, “Noooo!” My heart drops. I’m about to explode. But then I see the kid’s face. He’s just so excited, I can’t stay mad. I laugh it off. “Just don’t do it again, alright?”
After the parade, I get back to work. More customers come in. A chef from the restaurant down the street, Via Vesuvio, brings in his knives. He’s all serious, like, “These need to be perfect.” I’m like, “Dude, chill. I got this.”
But then, I mess up. I slip, and the knife goes flying. It lands right in the wall! I’m mortified. The chef’s eyes are wide. I’m thinkin’, “Great, now I’m a danger to society.” But he just laughs. “You’re lucky I like you, sharpener.” Phew!
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted. I pack up my stuff, ready to head home. But as I walk back through the streets, I can’t help but smile. San-Sebastiano-al-Vesuvio, with its quirks and chaos, is my home. The people, the food, the unexpected moments—they make it all worth it.
So yeah, it was a wild ride. I’m beat, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Tomorrow’s another day, and who knows what’ll happen next? Bring it on!