Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a prison warden in Santa-Maria-A-Vico is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. One minute you’re chillin’, the next you’re dodging chaos like it’s a game of dodgeball.
So, I wake up, right? Sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be smooth.” Ha! What a joke. I step outta my apartment on Via Roma, and boom! There’s a parade of scooters zooming by. I swear, these guys think they’re in the MotoGP or somethin’. I almost got run over by a dude in a bright pink helmet. Like, c’mon man, safety first!
I get to the prison, and it’s already buzzing. The guards are all like, “You won’t believe what happened!” I’m like, “What now?” Turns out, some inmate tried to escape through the laundry room. Laundry! Can you believe that? I mean, who thinks they can just waltz out in a pile of dirty socks?
So, I’m pacing around the yard, trying to keep my cool. The sun’s beating down, and I’m sweating like a sinner in church. I glance over at the old chapel on Via San Giovanni. It’s beautiful, but man, it’s hard to appreciate when you’re dealing with a bunch of knuckleheads.
Then, outta nowhere, I hear this loud crash. I whip around, and there’s a group of inmates fighting over a soccer ball. A soccer ball! I mean, c’mon, guys! We’re in a prison, not a World Cup match! I had to break it up, and let me tell ya, that was not a fun task. I’m yelling, they’re yelling, and I’m just thinking, “Why can’t we all just get along?”
After that, I needed a breather. So, I head to the little café on Via Nazionale. Best espresso in town, no joke. I grab a cup, and the barista, Maria, gives me this look like she knows I’m having a rough day. She’s like, “You look like you need this.” And she’s right! I down that espresso like it’s water.
But then, just when I thought I could relax, my phone buzzes. It’s the warden from the next facility. He’s like, “Hey, we got a situation.” Great. Just what I needed. Apparently, they had a riot. I’m thinking, “Why can’t people just chill?”
I rush back to the prison, and it’s chaos again. I’m running around, trying to keep things under control. I see my buddy Marco, and he’s got this wild look in his eyes. I’m like, “Dude, what’s up?” He tells me they found a stash of contraband hidden in the chapel. Seriously? In the chapel? That’s just low, man.
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted. I’m walking home, and I pass by the old fountain in the piazza. It’s one of those moments where you just stop and breathe. The water’s flowing, kids are playing, and for a second, I forget about the craziness.
But then, I hear a loud crash again. I turn, and some kid just knocked over a gelato stand. Ice cream everywhere! I can’t help but laugh. It’s just one of those days, ya know?
Finally, I get home, and I plop down on my couch. I’m thinking about how wild Santa-Maria-A-Vico is. It’s got its charm, but man, it can be a handful. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, though. Just another day in the life of a prison warden, right?