Grandma’s Lie

Osmel Almaguer

HAVANA TIMES — “Girl, look at me here,” said one older woman to another. “I just came from my granddaughter’s school. The principal had called me urgently because she found out that a methodology commission was coming to visit the place.”

“I’m the salvation of that school,” she continued. “See this?” she said, as she lifted a set of dishes she was holding, “The problem is that they don’t’ have any dishes or glasses to serve visitors there. If it weren’t for me…”

Speaking practically non-stop to the other woman, the grandmother continued: “They’re always calling me from there. If it’s not about them missing a plate, then it’s about them needing a paint for a classroom, or them wanting to throw a party for the teachers, or any other favor you can think of.”

“I’m always at their disposal, because you know my granddaughter isn’t very gifted in her classes, so when things get a little stuck they always give me a nudge. But it would be even worse if she had to repeat the year.”

The woman then stopped talking and said goodbye, as if she had finished venting.

I had been sitting a few feet away and had heard all this in a state of somewhere between discomfort and amazement. I knew exactly what she was talking about because not long ago I had the difficult task of teaching at one of those schools.

It’s striking that at no time has this woman shown any concern about the future of her granddaughter. In this society, there’s a large number of people who prefer to pay or bribe instead of studying, preferring the easy way over having to sacrifice, which is the only thing that guarantees permanence.

This grandmother is paving the way for her granddaughter based on a lie. Within a few years, she or the girl will have to bribe someone to get a decent job. And what’s most worrisome is that there are possibly many employers willing to be bribed.