Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a shoemaker in Budy (ua) ain’t for the faint-hearted. Woke up late, of course. Alarm? What alarm? I jumped outta bed like a cat on fire. The sun was already blazin’ outside, and I was like, “Great, just great.”
So, I rush to my shop on Shevchenka Street. You know, the one with the old oak tree? Yeah, that one. I’m thinkin’ I’ll grab a coffee from that little kiosk. But guess what? The barista was outta coffee! Can you believe that? I mean, who runs outta coffee in the morning? I was ready to throw a fit. But I just grabbed a soda instead. Not the same, but whatever.
Finally, I get to my shop. The smell of leather hits me like a warm hug. I love that smell. It’s like home. But then, I see it. A huge pile of shoes waiting for me. Ugh! I swear, it’s like they multiply overnight. I start workin’ on this pair of boots. They’re all scuffed up, like they’ve been through a war. I’m like, “What did you do, climb a mountain?”
Then, outta nowhere, my buddy Vasyl pops in. He’s always got some wild story. Today, he’s talkin’ about this new place on Hrushevskoho Street. Apparently, they got the best borscht in town. I’m like, “Dude, I’m tryin’ to work here!” But he just keeps ramblin’. I can’t help but laugh. He’s a character, that one.
So, I’m fixin’ these boots, and I get a call. It’s my cousin, Yulia. She’s in a panic. “My wedding’s in two days! My shoes are ruined!” I’m like, “Chill, I got you.” But inside, I’m thinkin’, “Why do people wait till the last minute?” I tell her to come by, and I’ll work my magic.
While I’m waitin’, I step outside for a breather. The streets are buzzin’. Kids are playin’ on the corner of Kostiantynivska Street, and old ladies are gossipin’ by the fountain. It’s a scene, man. I love Budy. It’s got this vibe, ya know?
Then, Yulia shows up, and she’s a mess. I mean, her shoes look like they’ve been through a tornado. I get to work, and she’s pacing around like a caged animal. “What if they don’t match my dress?” she frets. I’m like, “Relax, I’m a pro.” But inside, I’m sweatin’.
I’m fixin’ her shoes, and I can hear the church bells ringin’. It’s like a countdown to her wedding. I’m feelin’ the pressure. Finally, I finish, and they look amazing! She’s all smiles, and I’m like, “See? Told ya!”
But then, just as she’s leavin’, I hear this loud crash. I rush outside, and some dude on a bike just wiped out on the sidewalk. I’m like, “Man, are you okay?” He’s groanin’ but gets up like a champ. I can’t help but chuckle. Only in Budy, right?
The day’s winding down, and I’m exhausted. I close up shop and head to that borscht place Vasyl was raving about. It’s on Hrushevskoho Street, and let me tell ya, it did NOT disappoint. The borscht was like a warm hug in a bowl. I’m sittin’ there, slurpin’ it up, and I’m thinkin’, “This is life.”
As I walk home, I can’t help but smile. Budy’s got its quirks, but it’s my home. I love the chaos, the people, the stories. It’s a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. What a day, huh?