I Like That They Call Me “Papi”

I Like That They Call Me "Papi" / Luis Cino Alvarez
Posted on September 27, 2013

Havana, Cuba, September, www.cubanet.org – Lately, with guys over the
age of 40, in addition to "Tío," "Puro" and very rarely "Señor, the
younger generation calls us "Papi."

As sexists as we still are — sorry, Mariela Castro – it is still a bit
startling.

They call the taxi driver "Papi," a guy with a criminal face who can
barely hide that he's up to no good; a young man who looks like a
metrosexual, all very ambivalent: gelled hair, waxed eyebrows, piercing
in his left eyebrow, tight top which shows his well sculpted arms, and
chest hairs showing signs of prior shaving and even the top of his
underwear showing the name of Versace that sticks out two inches above
his pants, which also, by the way, are hanging almost to his crotch.

And how about if the one calling you "Papi" is a good-looking girl made
up like a porn star? First, make sure that is not a man. If it really
is a girl, then perhaps there no need for a sweet little compliment.
Within the next hour she can ask you to light her cigarette and then
turn her back on you, shaking her assets without even thanking you. As
if everyone in the universe deserved it.

She might also be a hooker looking for clients. Chances are that
nothing will happen, because the money you have is not enough to pay her
fee; perhaps you don't have a place to take her; or you are afraid of
the place where she could take you and where two or three of her
followers could be waiting to fleece you; fear of AIDS might stop you;
or you're turned off by her warnings that you have to pay her in
advance, use a condom, not take too long, and not kiss her (the
prostitutes in Cuba do not kiss on the mouth).

In many instances, when you really look at her, you have to be a
championship pervert to overcome the weight of your conscience and do it
with a girl who could easily be your daughter and who you can tell from
a mile away is hungry.

Now it doesn't bother me when they call me "Papi." Perhaps I would feel
uncomfortable if they called me "Señor. Especially if it is a young
girl. I feel that if they don't address me in familiar terms it is
because I look as old as a Polynesian turtle. Too old for them to call
me "Papi." And that is much worse.

From Cubanet, September 6, 2013

Luis Cino Alvarrez — luicino2012@gmail.com

Translated by – LYD

Source: "I Like That They Call Me "Papi" / Luis Cino Alvarez |
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