Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, Velyka-Mykhaylivka really knows how to throw a curveball. Woke up this mornin’ with a killer headache. Probably from last night’s borscht binge. Yeah, I know, borscht ain’t supposed to be a party food, but you haven’t lived until you’ve had grandma’s secret recipe.
So, I’m sippin’ my coffee on Shevchenka Street, right? The sun’s barely up, and I’m already feelin’ the chaos. I see this old lady, bless her soul, tryin’ to cross the street. She’s like a turtle on a mission. I’m thinkin’, “C’mon, lady, you can do it!” But then, bam! A cat darts outta nowhere. She screams, I spill my coffee. Classic Velyka-Mykhaylivka morning, right?
After that, I head over to the station on Haharina Street. My partner, Oleg, is already there, munchin’ on some stale pastries. I swear, he’s got a sixth sense for bad food. “You gotta try this,” he says, shoving a half-eaten roll at me. I’m like, “Nah, I’m good, man.” But he insists. Ugh, it’s like eatin’ cardboard.
Then, we get a call. Some kid’s gone missing near the park by the river. My heart drops. I hate this part of the job. We rush over to the park, and it’s packed with people. Families, joggers, and a bunch of teenagers just hangin’ out. I can’t help but think, “Where’s the kid?”
We start askin’ around. No one’s seen him. I’m gettin’ angrier by the minute. I mean, c’mon, how do you lose a kid in broad daylight? Oleg’s tryin’ to keep it cool, but I can see he’s worried too.
Finally, we spot a group of kids playin’ soccer. I jog over, and one of ‘em, a scrappy little dude, says he saw the missing kid headin’ towards the old factory on Kostiantynivska Street. My gut twists. That place is a dump.
We race over there, and it’s like a scene from a horror movie. Graffiti everywhere, broken glass, and the smell? Ugh, like a mix of mold and regret. I’m thinkin’, “This is not good.”
We search the place, and just when I’m about to lose hope, I hear a faint cry. I follow the sound, and there he is! The kid’s stuck in a corner, scared outta his mind. I scoop him up, and man, the relief is unreal.
Oleg’s grinning like a fool. “Told ya we’d find him!” Yeah, yeah, I’m just glad he’s safe. We take him back to his parents, and they’re all tears and hugs. Makes the job worth it, ya know?
But then, just when I think the day’s chillin’, we get another call. A robbery at the market on Velyka Street. Seriously? Can’t a guy catch a break? We head over, and it’s chaos. People are shoutin’, vendors are freakin’ out.
I spot the thief tryin’ to blend in. Dude’s got a bright red jacket. Like, c’mon, man, you think that’s gonna work? I chase him down, and let me tell ya, I’m not as fast as I used to be. But adrenaline kicks in, and I’m sprintin’ like I’m 20 again.
Finally, I tackle him near the fountain. Water goes everywhere. I’m soaked, but I don’t care. I cuff him, and the crowd goes wild. “Velyka-Mykhaylivka’s finest!” they shout. I’m just tryin’ not to drown in my own embarrassment.
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted. I sit on a bench by the river, watchin’ the sunset. Velyka-Mykhaylivka’s got its quirks, but it’s home. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just another day in the life of a detective, right?