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BUYING A CELL OF MY OWN

a foreigner. Ricardo got very excited when I asked for his help. He boasted that he had studied economics at university. He sat me down at his table and gave me a full lecture about the best buying strategy.

‘It’s just basic supply and demand, Thomas. Buy low, sell high. Simple capitalism,’ he declared, leaning back in his chair and lighting up a joint. The way he held that joint between his index finger and his thumb and the way he blew out the smoke, I could have sworn he thought he was some famous economist puffing away on a Cuban cigar. ‘Anyone with half a brain can understand it.’

I understood most of his explanation, but Ricardo made it hard by blowing marijuana smoke in my face and using technical words whenever he could. It was all common sense, really, but he made it sound far more complicated.

‘Timing is everything in these matters, my friend. You’ve just got to be smarter than the rest to beat the market.’

I nodded my head, but when he could see that I wanted him to explain further, he took a deep breath and went through the whole thing, step by step.

The room prices went up and down as in any property market, so the important thing was to make the right decision about when to buy in order to get the best deal. Rooms were usually put up for sale when a prisoner knew for sure that he was leaving, although sometimes trades were made as prisoners upgraded or downgraded before their sentences had expired, according to their financial situation. The prisoners called this ‘moving house’. For the seller to get the highest price, it was best for him to sell the room a long time before his actual release date because as that date got closer, buyers would know that he was desperate and would sell cheaper. The best thing to do as a buyer was the exact opposite: delay purchase until someone who hadn’t managed to sell was about to leave.

‘So, to get the best price, I should wait and find someone who is leaving very soon?’ I asked.

‘If the market permits, yes,’ Ricardo agreed, offering me the joint.

I looked at him questioningly and held up my hand to refuse. I needed all my concentration for this one.

‘You see, sometimes that option isn’t available,’ he explained, ‘because the prison is totally full. It all comes back to your basic supply and demand.’