Man, what a day! I swear, if I had a euro for every crazy thing that happened in Santa-Maria-di-Licodia today, I’d be rich. So, I roll into the shop early, like 7 AM, ready to tackle whatever comes my way. The sun’s barely up, and I’m already chugging my third espresso. You know how it is, right?
First off, I get this call from a lady on Via Roma. Her car won’t start. Classic. I hop in my trusty old van, which, by the way, is a piece of junk but it’s my junk. I zoom over, dodging potholes like they’re landmines. Seriously, the roads here are like a war zone.
I get to her place, and she’s standing there, looking all frazzled. Turns out, her cat, Gigi, is stuck in the engine. I’m like, “Lady, I’m a mechanic, not a cat whisperer!” But hey, I can’t just leave Gigi there. So, I’m crawling under the car, trying to coax this furball out. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Gigi pops out, looking all smug. I’m covered in grease, and she’s just purring like she owns the place.
I get back to the shop, and my buddy Marco is there, laughing his head off. He’s like, “You should’ve charged her extra for the cat rescue!” I roll my eyes. But honestly, it was kinda funny.
Then, around noon, I get a call from a guy on Via Garibaldi. His brakes are shot. I’m thinking, “Great, another day, another disaster.” I head over, and this dude is pacing like he’s waiting for a bus that ain’t coming. He’s all stressed out, talking about how he needs to get to Catania for some big meeting. I’m like, “Dude, chill. I got this.”
So, I dive into the brakes, and guess what? The whole system is fried. I mean, it’s a miracle he didn’t crash. I’m sweating bullets, trying to fix it fast. I can hear the church bells from Santuario di Santa Maria, ringing like they’re mocking me.
Finally, I get it done, and the guy is so relieved. He hands me a tip, and I’m like, “Wow, thanks, man!” It’s not every day you get a bonus for saving someone’s life.
But then, just when I think I can catch a break, my phone buzzes. It’s my sister. She’s freaking out because her kid’s bike got stolen right outside the gelateria on Piazza della Libertà. I’m like, “Seriously? In broad daylight?”
I rush over there, and sure enough, the kid is in tears. I can’t stand to see that. So, I promise him I’ll help find it. We start asking around, and this old guy on Via Vittorio Emanuele starts telling us about some kids he saw. I’m thinking, “Great, let’s go on a wild goose chase.”
We finally track down these punks, and I confront them. I’m like, “You guys think it’s cool to steal a kid’s bike?” They just laugh. I’m fuming. But then, I remember my sister’s advice: “Pick your battles.” So, I just take a deep breath and tell them to return it. Miraculously, they do! The kid’s face lights up, and I feel like a hero.
By the time I get back to the shop, it’s already dark. I’m exhausted, but there’s this weird satisfaction in my chest. I mean, Santa-Maria-di-Licodia is a small town, but it’s got heart. The people here, they’re tough, but they care.
I sit down with Marco, and we crack open a couple of beers. I’m like, “Dude, today was wild!” He just laughs and says, “Welcome to Santa-Maria-di-Licodia, my friend.” And you know what? He’s right. It’s chaotic, it’s messy, but it’s home.
So, here I am, just a mechanic in a small town, but man, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Tomorrow’s another day, and who knows what’s gonna happen next? Bring it on!