IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 6 ENGLISH | Page 48

patio to build a little room. Using
cardboard, zinc, boards, and sheets, all
the neighbors built us a room. We stayed
there until the DMV gave us this
albergue cubicle.
YR: You told me you had tried to get
the TV folks to come.
Kirenia: One day, I went to the local
government’s headquarters and saw a
TV vehicle parked there, just by chance.
I asked them what channel they were
from, like I did with you, and they told
me they were from “Papelito habla.” I
told them my situation and they gave me
an address; they told me not to forget to
go, but the truth is… They [the
authorities] gave us this room right
away. I think they saw me talking to the
TV people and worked fast. In any
event, I went to see Mariela Castro with
all my papers. I did not speak to her
personally, but her people told me to
await a reply. That was when someone
from the National Assembly involved
with construction and such came, a tall,
black man. I saw him personally. I told
him my story; he asked me if I was
Kirenia. That’s when I knew he had
come on my account.
YR: So you were both seen and taken
care of.
Kirenia: Yes, but not properly. At first,
they told us that our case had been
closed, which can only be done in one of
two situations: if I had received housing
from them, or if I had improved my
situation. Neither had happened. When
they went to Casablanca and saw the
room with no bathroom, and its earthen
floor, they realized that was I had been

saying was true and never did close the
case. They may have given the housing
to someone, anyone.
The cubicle consisted of a small, square
room, perhaps measuring a couple of
meters. It had no kitchen, but at least it
had an indoor bathroom. Her son made
the kitchen table/counter. That small
space should house beds for Santa,
Kirenia, and a newborn child, in addition
to furniture, a TV, and a refrigerator.
They had only one bed to use, and the
only place for it to go would get wet.
Kirenia received a few pieces of pine.
“Some are even termite ridden, I think,”
says Santa. Her son managed to make
the loft with them, to make for a bit
more space. But they are very thin, and
should not be walked on too much. Santa
doesn’t sleep up there now, because of
the excessive humidity. There is a crack
on the wall, and water comes in. The
mattress that was on the bed got wet, and
got ruined. She sleeps below, on a
blanket. Her younger son is now with
her, but I see that Santa’s conditions are
not so bad: she has a refrigerator,
television, washer, etc.
Santa: I paid the TV off through a
payment plan. My sister who lives
abroad bought me the refrigerator. When
it got old, I was able to exchange it for
that one, which I am still paying off. My
sister who lives in Norway bought me
the washer. When she comes, she takes
care of us, but she doesn’t send
anything.
Santa works at a sort of visitor house
where judicial functionaries from Regla,
Guanabacoa, and Old Havana stay. They

48