Pennyless in Havana - The Story of Gregorio

Pennyless in Havana: The Story of Gregorio
June 11, 2014
Jorge Milanes Despaigne

HAVANA TIMES — Gregorio has no money, not even enough to put food on his
table. This is reflected in his mood. That's why he never goes out; so
that people won't notice the dire financial straits he is in.

We haven't heard from him in days, and I'm worried, because his wife
visits us often. Our friendship dates back to 1970, when "Greggo"
(that's what we call him at home) and my father went off to cut sugar
cane in the "10 Million Ton Harvest" campaign to earn a bit of money,
try to win car, a trip to the former Soviet Union or another country of
Europe's socialist bloc, or even a house (which you got if you managed
to cut over eleven million kilos of sugarcane).

During several harvests, Gregorio cut down enough sugarcane to earn the
right to buy a fridge, an appliance he had to pay for with money from
his salary (when Cuban salaries actual had value). He also received a
number of work incentives: fifteen days at a beach in Varadero, a radio,
invitations to big parties…what dream-filled times those! He never once
imagined how difficult his life would be today. It's a good thing he had
some fun back then.

To find out what's going on, I went over to Gregorio's and asked him
about his family. He tried to avoid the question and the answer. His
wife finally answered, teary-eyed:

You know that "Greggo", old as he is, has always worked to support the
three of us. But he can't do that as he used to anymore, his health
doesn't allow it. The doctor diagnosed him with a number of conditions
and he really can't keep doing the jobs he'd been doing till now. And
those he can still do he must do very carefully."

"The thing is that we haven't had anything to eat for several days and I
feel sorry for him. My health is also a real mess. Carlitos got paid
only half his salary this month. You can imagine the situation we're in,
what with all of the medicine we have to buy, the electricity, phone and
water bills, how expensive things are at the market – it's impossible,
we simply can't go on like this. That's why I haven't being going over
to your place these days."

"Things are very difficult indeed," I said. "We know about what you're
telling me at home. Yesterday, I bought some soy yogurt, I can give you
two bags. Come over and get them when you have a chance. It's not a lot,
but it's better than nothing."

This is one of the many sad situations we see today: the lives of those
who worked for the revolution and their families their whole lives and
now not even their children are able to help them.

Source: Pennyless in Havana: The Story of Gregorio - Havana Times.org -
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=104194