Liza's Story Part 7

Here we read about the case of Aunt Juliska and the stafírung, which would have been much needed later. In addition to the events following the death of the kindly aunt, we discover the continent to which the abusive uncle ended up wandering. Finally. What was the final straw that caused him to leave his 'home' and where the resilient Elizabeth lived - homeless - in Budapest for years.

In spite of all the difficulties, the growing up and feminizing Elizabeth received a very careful upbringing from her Aunt Gretel, although her uncle once even tried to get it on with her, and she was scared of him! Nevertheless, Aunt Gretel, who cried a lot at the sight of her debauched master, collected for Elizabeth the customary embroidered monogrammed "stafírung", which she placed in the National Bank's safe. I only note in passing that Elizabeth would often have needed the stafírung later on, but for lack of money she was unable to replace it. Then, in 1931, her husband cashed it after their marriage. In a much-needed bleach wash, all but one of her possessions, a net coat, was immediately destroyed, and she had it for many years.

Continuing the tragic story of the adolescent Elizabeth, Aunt Gretel was taken by a spring flu epidemic in 1926. Although Elizabeth would have continued to serve the male members of the family, without the protection of her aunt, it became dangerous among the many men. The situation was not even resolved by the uncle's sudden emigration to America (before, of course, he offered Elizabeth to go with him). The departure of the 'boss' only freed the others and made the little buck's situation even more precarious!

"I was sometimes thrown out in a rage, and even in cold weather I had to hide in the corridor", she said.

Finally, in January 1927, she left her "employers" overnight, with only a single dress and her little bundle of clothes! After that she simply became homeless in the area of Nagycsarnok-Mária utca-Nagytemplom utca-Üllői út in Pest. The difficult years of self-dependence followed in Elisabeth's life!