Man, what a day! I swear, Berghem’s got a way of throwin’ curveballs. Woke up this mornin’ thinkin’ it’d be just another chill day. You know, grab a coffee at de Koffieboon, maybe hit up the market on de Kerkstraat. But nah, life had other plans.
First off, I’m cruisin’ down de Molenstraat, right? Just mindin’ my own business, when BAM! A cat darts out in front of my bike. I swerve, nearly eatin’ pavement. I’m like, “Dude, what’s your problem, cat?” But it’s all good. I laugh it off. Cats, man. They think they own the place.
So I get to the station, and my partner, Jan, is already there, lookin’ like he’s seen a ghost. Turns out, there’s been a break-in at the old church on de Hoofdstraat. I mean, who robs a church? Seriously! I’m thinkin’, “What’s next? Stealin’ the communion wine?” But we gotta check it out.
We roll up, and the vibe is tense. The church is all quiet, like it’s holdin’ its breath. I can feel the weight of history in there. Old wooden beams, stained glass, the whole shebang. But then I see it—some idiot smashed a window. I’m fumin’. Like, who does that? I’m ready to hunt this punk down.
While we’re investigatin’, I spot a weird symbol on the wall. Looks like some kinda graffiti. I’m like, “What the heck is this?” Jan shrugs, but I can tell he’s curious too. We snap some pics, ‘cause you never know when that’ll come in handy.
Then, outta nowhere, this old lady pops up. She’s like, “I saw everything!” I’m thinkin’, “Great, finally some leads!” But nah, she just rambles about her cat. I’m like, “Lady, I’m glad Fluffy’s okay, but we need info on the break-in!” She just keeps talkin’ about her garden. I’m tryin’ not to lose it.
After that, we head to the café on de Markt. I need a breather. Grab a stroopwafel and a strong coffee. I’m sittin’ there, tryin’ to process the chaos. Berghem’s got this charm, ya know? The cobblestone streets, the little shops. But today? It’s like the city’s gone mad.
Then, my phone buzzes. It’s a tip! Someone saw a shady dude hangin’ around the church. I’m like, “Finally!” We rush over to de Schoolstraat, where the tipster said he’d be. My heart’s racin’. This could be it!
We get there, and I spot him. A scruffy guy, lookin’ all nervous. I approach, and he bolts! I’m chasin’ him through the streets, dodgin’ people. “Hey! Stop!” I yell. But he’s fast. I’m thinkin’, “Dude, you’re not gettin’ away that easy!”
We end up near the old windmill. I’m outta breath, but I can’t let him slip. Finally, I corner him. “What’s your deal, man?” He’s shakin’, spillin’ about some gang and a plan to hit more places. I’m like, “You’re gonna help us, or you’re toast.”
Long story short, we get the info we need. I’m feelin’ like a hero, but also mad. Why’s it always gotta be like this? Berghem’s a small town, but it’s got its problems.
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted. I head home, thinkin’ about all the craziness. I love this job, but man, some days it’s a rollercoaster. I plop down on my couch, grab a beer, and just breathe. Tomorrow’s another day in Berghem, and who knows what’ll happen next?