As expected, there were interminable discussions around the table on the Virtues of Capitalism. The kids  were turned out of the room when these began because Mother was afraid the kids would blab at school.  Appreciating the gravity of the occasion, we loitered outside the door in the hope of catching a few words  of treason but heard nothing worth repeating. There was a lot of shushing and hushing going on as  Mother took every precaution. The family, you see, had got into trouble once before.      Just a few months ago, Pavel came home from school with a note requesting an interview with Mother  and Dad at the comrade principal’s office. They were a bit puzzled; it was Pavel’s first year of school and  he was doing all right, and what with his quiet nature and all they couldn’t make sense of it, but of course,  they went. The interview started well enough, Pavel was a clever boy, no problem there. However, when  asked...