married an industrialist three times her age; she boasted of being the only Polish Calderonist6.
“Poo! How dare you call me crazy?” Mrs. Golche would burst in, she who always suffered from migrai-nes. According to her, if Calderón returned, we would be sent abroad, something he had already attempted in 1940. “Gedenkst? (Do you understand?)” she would ask. Suddenly, Mrs. Regina and Mrs. Raquel, who were discussing the Spanish anti-Semitic hair-dresser who refused to serve them, interrupted to disa-gree with everyone and suggest that it was best to be prepared for a new exile. “Pisk-malogeh!” (Nonsense!)
-responded Doña Pepa - who did not believe in empty promises - responded with disdain. At that moment, pandemonium reigned, and each woman supported the one whose husband owed her money.
“Shh (Silence), comrades!” shouted Elena, using her power as the hostess. No one dared to make a sound, fearing being added to the Schirano’s blacklist, which meant political ostracism.
For many, these gatherings were a respite in their lives, condemned to small shops or clothing factories.
At times, between a piece of strudel and a banana sou-ffléé, one of them would fix her eyes on the window, perhaps thinking of a family member, while another 6 Calderonista is a follower of President Calderon Guardia (1940-1944) who fought against Jose Figueres in Costa Rica’s Civil War of 1948. Most Jews would not take sides during the conflict, but the country would then divide for many years between Figueristas and Calderonistas.