Jorge’s friend, W, returned from living in Europe around the time I first lived here, 15 years ago. I met him a couple of times, but never really got to know him. W opened a bookshop on Tristan Narvaja. It’s a rambling kind of place, but has survived for over a decade, so is presumably successful enough. Uruguayans love books. This morning I visited the local market, dozens of which are peppered around the city on a daily basis. Beyond the fruit and veg stalls, people laid out odds and sods for sale on blankets on the street. About half of these contained second hand books of one form or another.
Jorge told me that lately, things haven’t been going well for W. He’s a cocaine addict, perhaps a crack addict as well, and he’s got AIDS. He’s in constant need of petty cash to finance his habits and he’s losing contact with many of his friends.
I expressed surprise that the bookshop has survived in spite of all this. Jorge pointed out that if W sold the enterprise, as he could, he’d get an influx of cash, but thereafter he’d be left with no ongoing means of support. He then described the remarkable ecology of the bookshop, explaining its ongoing solvency.
The bookshop has two employees. In theory they work for W, but in practice they make the bookshop work for all three. The two employees run the place. They keep the accounts, do all the ordering, sell books, keep the place clean. Everything. W appears on the shop floor now and again, mostly just to get in the way. His primary connection with the place is the small living it affords him to sustain his habit. However, it is never enough, and when in need of urgent intoxication, and short on cash, W will think nothing of taking from the till. It is, after all, ‘his’ money. Fortunately the two employees have learnt over the time how to manage W’s stealing from himself. Every night they remove most of the cash from the till, but leave just enough for W to be able to afford a small purchase. Jorge believes that this has saved W. It has allowed him to maintain his habit, but in moderation. More spare cash would lead to a greater intake of drugs, which would kill him, sooner rather than later. As it is he never feels entirely deprived, but is never in a position to partake in excess. The ecology has saved him, and it also keeps the business running, ensuring the employees continue to have jobs which they obviously enjoy.
Nevertheless, there are some times when W isn’t satisfied with what’s been left in the till. For some reason or another he decides that on this occasion he has to have more – cash and drugs. When this happens, there’s a solution to hand. The bookseller steals his own books. He takes them to a neighbouring bookseller and sells them on at a reduced rate, second-hand.
Jorge told me that lately, things haven’t been going well for W. He’s a cocaine addict, perhaps a crack addict as well, and he’s got AIDS. He’s in constant need of petty cash to finance his habits and he’s losing contact with many of his friends.
I expressed surprise that the bookshop has survived in spite of all this. Jorge pointed out that if W sold the enterprise, as he could, he’d get an influx of cash, but thereafter he’d be left with no ongoing means of support. He then described the remarkable ecology of the bookshop, explaining its ongoing solvency.
The bookshop has two employees. In theory they work for W, but in practice they make the bookshop work for all three. The two employees run the place. They keep the accounts, do all the ordering, sell books, keep the place clean. Everything. W appears on the shop floor now and again, mostly just to get in the way. His primary connection with the place is the small living it affords him to sustain his habit. However, it is never enough, and when in need of urgent intoxication, and short on cash, W will think nothing of taking from the till. It is, after all, ‘his’ money. Fortunately the two employees have learnt over the time how to manage W’s stealing from himself. Every night they remove most of the cash from the till, but leave just enough for W to be able to afford a small purchase. Jorge believes that this has saved W. It has allowed him to maintain his habit, but in moderation. More spare cash would lead to a greater intake of drugs, which would kill him, sooner rather than later. As it is he never feels entirely deprived, but is never in a position to partake in excess. The ecology has saved him, and it also keeps the business running, ensuring the employees continue to have jobs which they obviously enjoy.
Nevertheless, there are some times when W isn’t satisfied with what’s been left in the till. For some reason or another he decides that on this occasion he has to have more – cash and drugs. When this happens, there’s a solution to hand. The bookseller steals his own books. He takes them to a neighbouring bookseller and sells them on at a reduced rate, second-hand.
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