From my student days I maintain several friendships, which support the passage of time like the pyramids. The protagonist of this story is a friend from high school, which by his great ability to sleep in the classroom with his eyes open and an expression of profound interest on his face, managed to avoid being called on by the teachers. He therefore received, in a student baptism, the nickname Zombie, in spite of Ferdinando’s* being ”pegged” the same. I will talk about his other characteristics. Zombie is the persistent type. And he’s also the lucky type. He’s an excellent musician in academia, who prepares arrangements, composes, and plays three instruments. He has the tremendous luck to have been permitted to travel (abroad, you understand) more than four times since 2001. And that, for a “musician from the provinces,” is a great success.
Returning to his persistence, it turns out that Zombie is infatuated with the idea of toast for breakfast, like the English, he says. Because of this, on his last three trips he brought back a toaster, which was invariably confiscated at customs. He has no complaints and even considers that he has voluntarily donated them to tourism or to some official guest residence, and we must acknowledge this, no? Many believe that he’s nuts or half comem…* But he insists, and persists, and says he’s not going to get tired of trying, until one day he’ll manage to get the desired toaster. The recent rumors about the sale of household appliances* and a post from Yoani* made me remember the story of Zombie who must be off with his music to Turkey or Japan by this time, perhaps with the toaster already packed in his luggage. How many more will he “donate” before realizing his dream of an English breakfast?
(* Ferdinand was a clown, a protagonist in a TV show from the defunct German Democratic Republic who, in each episode, used to sleep in the most incredible positions and situations.)
Translator’s notes:
“comem…” is the beginning of an “unprintable” word. This translator cannot think of a comparable word in English that has more than one or two letters before it gets to the point… so you’ll have to use your imagination.
Sale of household appliances: The government recently announced that Cubans will be allowed to buy previously unavailable household appliances.
Yoani: Yoani Sánchez, author of the blog Generación Y, which is also on the DesdeCuba website, along with this blog.
