Man, what a day! I swear, being a telephone operator in Hardenberg is like riding a rollercoaster with no seatbelt. So, I roll into work at the call center on de Dijk, right? Just another day, or so I thought.
First call comes in. It’s this lady, totally frantic. “My cat’s stuck in a tree!” she yells. I’m like, “Lady, it’s not a fire, chill!” But nah, she’s convinced her cat, Mr. Whiskers, is gonna become a bird’s dinner. I mean, c’mon, it’s just a tree on de Veldkamp. I told her to grab some treats and shake the bag. Cats are like, “Oh, food? I’m coming down!”
Then, boom! Next call. This dude from the Hoofdstraat is losing it. “My bike got stolen!” he screams. I’m thinking, “Bro, welcome to Hardenberg!” I mean, it’s a small town, but bike thefts are like a sport here. I told him to check the local café, probably some kid’s joyride.
And then, outta nowhere, my phone rings again. It’s a guy asking for directions to the new supermarket on de Korenbloem. I’m like, “Dude, just follow the smell of fresh bread!” But he’s all confused. I mean, it’s not rocket science! Just go straight, take a left at the roundabout, and boom, you’re there!
But wait, it gets better. I’m on a roll, right? Then I get this call from a guy who’s lost his wallet. I’m thinking, “Man, you’re in Hardenberg, not Amsterdam!” He’s panicking like he lost a family member. I told him to retrace his steps. “Did you check the Markt?” I mean, that’s where all the action is.
By now, I’m feeling like a therapist. “Tell me about your feelings, sir.” I’m just trying to keep it together. And then, my boss walks in. He’s all serious, like he’s got a stick up his you-know-what. “We need to improve our call times!” I’m like, “Dude, I’m not a robot!”
So, I take a breather. I step outside for a sec, and wow, the weather’s nice. The sun’s shining, and I can hear kids playing at the playground on de Korenbloem. It’s a nice vibe, you know? But then, I see this guy trying to parallel park on de Molenstraat. He’s all over the place! I’m like, “Dude, it’s not that hard!”
Back inside, I get another call. This time, it’s a sweet old lady. “Can you help me with my TV?” she asks. I’m thinking, “Lady, I’m not a tech support!” But I can’t say no. Turns out, she just needed to plug it in. I mean, come on!
Finally, the day winds down. I’m exhausted but happy. I helped a bunch of people, even if it was just telling them to chill or check the Markt. Hardenberg is wild, man. It’s small but full of surprises.
As I head home, I can’t help but laugh. What a day! I love this town, even with its quirks. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.