Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a butcher in Zdolbuniv ain’t for the faint-hearted. Woke up this mornin’ to the sound of my neighbor’s rooster. Like, dude, it’s 5 AM! Chill out! Anyway, I dragged myself outta bed, threw on my apron, and headed to the shop on Shevchenka Street.
The sun was barely up, but the streets were already buzzin’. Zdolbuniv is a small town, but it’s got its charm. The smell of fresh bread from the bakery on the corner hit me as I walked by. I swear, that place is like heaven. I thought about grabbin’ a loaf, but nah, I gotta focus. Meat first, carbs later, right?
So, I get to the shop, and it’s a mess. My assistant, Vova, is already there, lookin’ like he just rolled outta bed. “Yo, Vova! You gonna help or just stand there?” He mumbles somethin’ about coffee. I mean, who needs coffee when you got the smell of fresh meat?
First customer rolls in. It’s Babushka Oksana. She’s a regular, always wants the best cuts. “Give me the juiciest steak, my boy!” she says. I can’t help but smile. She’s like a grandma to me. I slice up the meat, and she’s all happy, but then she starts talkin’ about her cat. “You know, my Masha caught a mouse yesterday!” I’m like, “That’s great, Babushka, but I gotta chop this pork!”
Then, outta nowhere, this dude storms in. I swear, he looked like he just came from a horror movie. “I need a whole pig!” he yells. A whole pig? In Zdolbuniv? I’m thinkin’, “Dude, you tryna start a barbecue or what?” I tell him we don’t do whole pigs, just cuts. He gets all huffy and puffy. “You’re a butcher! Butchers sell pigs!” I’m like, “Yeah, but not in pieces, man!”
After that drama, I finally get a break. I step outside for some fresh air. The view from my shop is nice. You can see the old church on the hill. It’s been there forever. Makes ya think about life, ya know?
But then, I hear this loud noise. It’s a bunch of kids playin’ soccer in the street. They’re kickin’ the ball around like it’s the World Cup. One of ‘em kicks it too hard, and BAM! Right through my shop window! Glass everywhere! I’m fumin’. “Hey! Watch where you kick that thing!” They just laugh and run off. Kids these days, I swear.
So, I’m cleanin’ up the mess, and guess who walks in? The mayor! Yeah, the big guy himself. He’s all smiles, shakin’ hands, and I’m like, “Dude, you just missed the soccer game!” He laughs, but I’m still mad about the window. He buys some sausages and leaves. I’m thinkin’, “Great, now I gotta fix this window and deal with angry customers.”
The day drags on. I’m slicin’ and dicin’, and then I get a call from my buddy, Taras. He’s like, “Wanna hit up the pub later?” I’m like, “Dude, I just had a crazy day!” But then I think, “Why not? I deserve a drink.”
Finally, the shop closes. I lock up and head to the pub on Hrushevskoho Street. It’s packed, but I find a spot. Taras is already there, laughin’ and tellin’ stories. I order a beer, and man, it hits the spot. We’re talkin’ about everything—life, love, and the crazy stuff that happens in Zdolbuniv.
By the end of the night, I’m feelin’ good. Sure, the day was wild, but that’s life, right? Zdolbuniv may be small, but it’s full of surprises. I head home, tired but happy. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.