[mdom]

2. There are exactly twenty-eight clowns that you've counted over the whole time you've been here, but this is the first one that isn't smiling.

Clarisse had been working on this project for the past five years nonstop. She sacrificed time with her family, seeing her kids grow, seeing her dog grow, nights of sleep, weekends away with friends, everything to finish her art installation at the most prestigious museum in the state.
It had been tough. She felt like she aged fifteen years instead of five. But she had an idea to show the world ever since she left art school, and that was her time. It all started very simple. She wanted to handcraft a happy clown face with pictures of sad clowns, a message on the manufactured happiness in our society. But after feedback from colleagues and professors, why not go bigger? Why not use real clowns to make a living happy face? And then, why not change expressions when you move them? Of course, what is that without lights, and some chamber music to help put the public in the proper mood. And soon her simple idea took over life and almost doubled the money she got from the sponsorship, making her travel all over to look for more interested parties.
The opening day came faster than she could ever be ready for.Everything was already in its place, but still she felt the need to go all over a few minutes before the press could get in. Lights: on. Musicians: in place. Pyrotechnicians: already explained to her five times how'd it work. Clowns: All twenty eight in place, already in the first formation, all smiling! All, but one.
- Excuse me, but you need to be smiling. We're opening soon.
- Why should I smile? Doesn't it make more sense that all of our sad faces make a big sad face?
- Listen, sir...
- Nine. Clown Nine.- he seemed pretty pleased with his punny name.
- Ok, now it's not the time to question this. You were hired to come here, make faces in the order listed in this chart and then you can get your pay with human resources and leave. If you want to discuss more about art I can leave my business card with you and-
- Well, why did you not hire actors then?
- I was looking for authenticity!
- Authenticity when clowns must make the faces you want in a completely random order? You won't even tell us a joke before moving on to the happy face!
She was starting to lose her patience, so she closed her eyes and counted to five. When she opened her eyes, Clown Nine was no longer there. Clarisse did a recount, and she had twenty eight clown, all smiling, ready for the opening.

One more just because