TIRANA - That August morning, Çeti came home sulking, tossed the shopping baskets on the table and said to his wife: "They're crazy, there's 1,200 lek a kilo of tomato oil. Don't take me out again to make me think I'm going to beat someone up. This place was made to run away an hour ago, but what do you want since we have no age...".
This, in fact, was just one of the episodes this summer that have exasperated the usually closed and taciturn type of Chet Transparent. In general, the Transparent tribe is noted for self-restraint and coolness. And for transparency, of course. But going out for shopping and facing the high prices of food, drinks, household appliances, etc., brought Ceti out of himself.
So another episode that made him nervous was sitting down for coffee with Zamo. After they started chatting, the natural Albanian fight started: No, I have the coffees, no, I invited you first, look, we'll break up together, please don't break up with me because I have a car, I bought a new refrigerator, etc., etc. In the end, Ceti triumphed. But when he looked carefully at the bill and saw that the coffee was 1500 lek, he turned yellow and almost fainted.
That same day, he sat down and did a little calculation: He had spent 120,000 ALL on coffee alone this month!
***
The increase in food prices was only one side of Chet's concern. For an average Albanian family, to these expenses must be added energy bills, water bills, mobile phone payments, clothing, shoes, let alone now that school starts, parents must also calculate books and other tools.
Chet decided to call Rama. The prime minister opened it urgently. "Tell me, Chet, I'm on the other line with the head of NATO, you won't have any fun, I believe," Rama told him.
Chet paused a little, then began:
"No, brother, I don't like it anymore, because I'm private at the end, you're busy talking, you big heads. But be aware that this may be the last time he talks to NATO. Are you still in government or not? What are your ministers doing? What are these food prices that the mountains have received? What time are you on the clock, are you going to work or how are you?"
The prime minister stepped down. He didn't know if the other was joking or if he was serious. Tried irony once:
"Don't tell me that you're tight and the end of the month is coming up every now and then. Or we will tell our friends to collect some money for charity", and he laughed hard.
But Chet Transparent cut him short: "No Mr. Prime Minister! I will gather the friends and we will decide what to do with you. I'm talking about the board. Maybe September in the opposition will bring you to your senses, fellow Prime Minister!", and ended it.
He didn't manage to put the cell phone in his pocket, because the bell rang. It was Rama. Cheti spoke to him gravely: "Tell me quickly, because my offer is running out!" The Prime Minister, on the other hand, looked very embarrassed, that he was short of breath: "What's wrong, brother, who upset you, tell your brother, how are you?"
Chet Transparenti decided to speak calmly:
"To put it briefly, master, I don't get nervous when I'm talking." The thing is, since you don't understand: This people does not deserve those ridiculous prices. Do you know that most Albanians barely make it to the end of the month? How will they buy my oil, gas and gasoline when they don't pay for bread?"
Note: Patronageist is a satirical column that drinks 700 lek coffee