I was just a kid when I first learned of it. There was a knock at the door as I sat in the front room. An older lady with a daughter stood there and spoke with a dialect asking, “c’è sta la signora a casa,” is the lady at home? I could see the young girl doubling over in pain, so I hollered for my Mom.
The old lady, highly agitated and barely able to speak, cried out, “mia figlia è collomalocchio!” My daughter has the malocchio! She is suffering from terrible head and stomach pains. Please help her.” I couldn’t understand. “Why come here?” This girl is in terrible pain. What is this curse, and how is my Mom supposed to help her? She’s not a doctor! These people must have the wrong house.
