Blackouts. Food shortages. Lack of transportation. Absence of water. Misery. Leaders who grow fat. A populace that grows thin. Unbearable political speeches. A country in crisis. A profound crisis. A bottomless crisis…
Yes, yes, yes, all of that is true... but, Farándula, what nobody can take away from the Cuban, neither yesterday, nor today, nor even in a thousand years, is the desire to laugh, the ability to joke and transform their deepest sorrows into good humor, in order to keep "guapeando."
Let Mario Sardiñas, the popular Chequera, tell you, as he once again brought in “charm and joy” with one of his videos on social media.
"New Chequera business!" announces the reel, and the charming character appears, dressed in the attire of one of the many street vendors struggling to make a living on the streets of the Island.
"Plastic brooms, lazybones, clothespins, electriiiiiiiic switcheeeeers!" announces the Merchant-Cheque. And when a voice off-screen asks to see the switches, he hurriedly pulls a metal pot out of his backpack.
“Pure, but that's a cauldron!” the presumed buyer exclaims in astonishment. Quickly, like a jolt, Cheque responds: “Pipo, touch it so you can see how the current comes…” And he walks away, with his typical swagger while continuing to shout: “Come on, get up, they're running out!”
Because, of course, when people have no other recourse but to bang on pots and pans, creating a cacophony in Vedado, La Güinera, East Havana, or other areas of Havana, or even in Morón, in Ciego de Ávila, and in towns across other provinces, we hear a chaotic symphony of metal clanging and fervent calls for the restoration of electricity after blackouts lasting 20, 30, or even 40 hours... When this happens, and the government and repressive forces know that today's angry pots could lead to burned PCC offices tomorrow, they rush to calm the accumulated frustration with a few hours of electricity; when all of this occurs and amidst the banging of pots and the blows of repression, people survive, or barely hang on, then it's clear where the electrical switches stand.
And on the corner of any neighborhood, with the sharp and edgy look of Chequera, the sellers of switches may multiply; and, even better, the buyers ready to use them.
Let's see if those who should guarantee the electricity supply finally abandon their comedic program "Vivir del cuento."
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