It is Saturday at noon and a group of people meets in a cafeteria on Calle San Francisco, in Centro Habana. Some make a stop to eat while they wait for their turn to advance in line at the Maisí store, where products have appeared that had not been sold in national currency for months. With the arrival of several clients, the private premises suddenly became a small discussion room.
A teenager complains to his father about the price of the pizzas, “40 pesos dad, mother! Before they cost one convertible peso (24 CUP) and one complained. You cannot live in this country,” he says in a voice. high. “That’s why the 15 [de noviembre] for the protest, there I will shout down with communism! “, he adds without noticing that there are also two policemen in the cafeteria.
The father looks almost instantly at the uniformed men, fearing the worst. Although the agents have been there for a long time, the employees have been slow to attend to them, one of the forms of popular rejection towards the forces of order that is increasingly seen on Cuban streets, especially after the violent repression of the protests. last July.
“Do not scold the boy that someone should say something to see if this changes, we quietly do not solve anything and youth always prevail”
“Don’t say those things, they will hear you,” warns the father and makes a face with his mouth to point at the policemen. “Do not scold the boy that someone should say something to see if this changes, we do not solve anything in silence and youth always prevail,” intercedes another client. Several faces turn towards the scene that leaves pizzas, fruit smoothies and ham sandwiches in the background.
“I don’t know what it’s done for, if he was on the 11 [de julio]”We were both there, the neighborhood was empty”, the young man replies mockingly, alluding to their participation in the demonstrations that day. The father’s face is red and he directs his gaze from the boy to the policemen who look at him. towards the ceiling as if they had not heard anything.
A woman also participates in the conversation: “Of course you have to go to the march,” she says with determination. “Look at this, how long has it been since they sold cleaning products in the neighborhood? It is known that everything they are selling today is to calm things down, but I buy them and then I am going to protest, like the first one!” Everyone laughs as they walk away with their pizzas in hand towards the store.
The cops are practically the last to grab your orders.
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