 |
ANECDOTES about ELEANOR BERRY by Rozanne Robinson, a freelance journalist
"Mind Your Own Business, Comrade."
Berry developed a fascination for the Russian language in her late teens and was so determined that she taught herself Russian in six months.
She went to Russia. Her parents gave her a stern lecture about the dangers of speaking to strangers, particularly in hotels late at night. In the Cold War days, it was not uncommon for Westerners to be chatted up in hotels, invited to parties and then be drugged and blackmailed by being photographed in sexual situations.
Berry was hoping to be approached by one of these people as she had rehearsed over and over again, what she considered to be her witty reply in perfect Russian.
Indeed, she was approached, the third night of her stay in a Moscow hotel, as she walked down the corridor to her bedroom. She was overjoyed by the opportunity of astounding her approacher with the quip she had prepared and had even gone so far as to rehearse in front of a mirror.
"Good evening," said the man. "Do you speak Russian."
"Yes I do, my good man. Quite well, actually."
"Are you very rich?"
"Mind your own business, comrade!"
"Your Russian is very good. Would you like to come to a party?"
Berry looked at her watch.
"No, I would not like to come to a party. It is now 5 to 12 and if I don't get back to my room by 12.00 o'clock, I'll miss hearing your National Anthem being played on the radio."
The man stared at her, aghast.
"Goodnight, comrade!" he eventually muttered.
|
