QUOTE : «Dashenka, sister, Dasha?»<br />«Yes?» She sounded so sad.<br />Tatiana swallowed. «Want to hear a funny story?»<br />«Oh, yes, please: I need a funny story to cheer me up. Tell me, darling».<br />«Stalin as Chairman of the Presidium went in front of the House of Parliament to make a short speech that lasted maybe five minutes. After the speech there was applause. The plenum stood on its feet and applauded. For a minute. Then another minute. They stood and applauded. But – Another minute. Still applauded. They were standing up, and still applauding, as Stalin stood in front of the lectern and listened with a humble smile on his face, the epitome of humility. Another minute. And still applauded. No one knew what to do. They waited for a signal from the Chairman to cease, but no such signal came from the humble and diminutive man. Another minute went by. And still they stood and applauded. It had now been eleven minutes. And no one knew what to do. Someone had to stop applauding. But who? Twelve minutes of applause. Thirteen minutes of applause. And still he stood there. And still they stood there. Fourteen minutes. Fifteen minutes. Finally, at the fifteen-minute mark, the man in the front, the Secretary of Transportation, stopped. As soon as he stopped, the entire auditorium fell mute. The following week the Secretary of Transportation was shot for treason».<br />«Tania!» exclaimed a startled Dasha. «That was supposed to be funny?»<br />«Yes», said Tatiana. «Funny, as in, cheer up, things could be worse. You could be the Secretary of Transportation».