Man, what a day! I swear, Vendas-Novas really knows how to throw a curveball. Woke up this morning, sun shining, birds chirping, thought it was gonna be chill. But nah, life had other plans.
First off, I’m a bone cutter, right? Sounds gnarly, but it’s just what I do. I cut bones for a living. Not the most glamorous job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it. So, I’m heading down Rua da Liberdade, and I’m already late. Typical. My coffee’s sloshing around in my cup, and I’m dodging pigeons like they’re ninjas. Seriously, those birds are out for blood.
Get to the clinic, and it’s chaos. Like, full-on circus mode. My buddy Miguel is running around like a headless chicken. “Dude, we got a double booking!” he yells. I’m like, “What? Who does that?” Turns out, some poor guy named João broke his leg playing football. Classic. And then there’s this lady, Maria, who tripped over her cat. I mean, come on! A cat? Really?
So, I’m in the back, prepping my tools, and I can hear the chaos outside. The waiting room is packed. I can see old Senhor Silva from down the street, always complaining about his back. “Get in line, Silva!” I shout. He just waves me off. Classic Silva.
Then, outta nowhere, the power goes out. Just my luck, right? I’m standing there in the dark, holding a saw. Not exactly the best scenario. I’m thinking, “Great, now I’m gonna have to do this by feel.” But then, the lights flicker back on, and I’m like, “Phew!”
Finally, I get to João. Poor guy’s in agony. I mean, I get it. Breaking a leg sucks. But he’s cracking jokes like he’s on stage. “At least I won’t have to run from my mother-in-law!” I can’t help but laugh. It’s moments like these that make the job worth it.
After that, I’m back in the break room, grabbing a snack. I’m munching on some pastéis de nata, and they’re heavenly. I mean, who doesn’t love those? But then, I hear a commotion outside. I peek out, and there’s a street performer doing some wild dance on Rua da Estação. I swear, this guy’s got moves! I’m thinking, “Man, I should’ve taken up dancing instead of cutting bones.”
But then, the mood shifts. I see a kid crying because he lost his balloon. My heart sinks. I mean, it’s just a balloon, but to him, it’s the world. So, I do what any decent human would do. I run out, grab a new balloon from a vendor, and hand it to him. His face lights up like it’s Christmas. That’s the stuff, man.
The day drags on, and I’m exhausted. I’m finally wrapping up, and I step outside. The sun’s setting over Vendas-Novas, and it’s beautiful. The sky’s all orange and pink, and I can see the hills in the distance. It’s moments like this that remind me why I love this place.
But then, I trip on the sidewalk. Classic me, right? I’m sprawled out on the ground, and I hear laughter. I look up, and it’s a group of kids. “You okay, mister?” one of them asks. I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, just practicing my breakdancing!”
So, I get up, dust myself off, and head home. I’m thinking about all the craziness of the day. The broken bones, the laughter, the tears. Vendas-Novas is wild, man. It’s got its quirks, its charm, and its chaos. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As I walk down Rua da Liberdade again, I can’t help but smile. Tomorrow’s another day, and who knows what it’ll bring? But for now, I’m just glad to be home.