Disdain for the American bourgeoisie floods her countenance. She clutches a wallet photo of a German officer. "Do you see his frustration? Look at those blue eyes, the strong chin, that beautiful angular face."

Other details circled back in vicious rumors. Did she really keep files on schoolmates, teachers, politicians? Yes, she did, and she tacked news clippings to the wall, and scurried to the library to do party research. She worked hard because they were always watching. She was a Nazi, in the seventh grade.

One day, her mother got tired of it. Every scrap, article, scribbled note, and file folder in her room disappeared, all at once.

"Those were the happiest days of my life," she said, during her Jewish phase.