Part 6 (1/2)

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 1943

When I think about our lives here, I usually come to the conclusion that we live in a paradise co All the sa has returned to normal, I'll probably wonder hoho always lived in such comfortable circumstances, could have ”sunk” so low With respect to manners, Itable ever since we've been here After so much use, it's hardly what you'd call spotless I do my best to clean it, but since the dishcloth was also purchased before ent into hiding and consists of more holes than cloth, it's a thankless task The van Daans have been sleeping all winter long on the saent is rationed and in short supply Besides, it's of such poor quality that it's practically useless Father is walking around in frayed trousers, and his tie is also showing signs of wear and tear Maot is wearing a bra that's two sizes too sot have shared the same three undershorts the entire winter, and mine are so ss that can be overcome, but I sometimes wonder: how can hose every possession, fro brush, is so old and worn, ever hope to regain the position we had before the war?

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 1943

The Attitude of the Annex Residents Toward the War

Mr van Daan In the opinion of us all, this revered gentleht into politics Nevertheless, he predicts we'll have to stay here until the end of '43 That's a very long time, and yet it's possible to hold out until then But who can assure us that this hich has caused nothing but pain and sorroill then be over? And that nothing will have happened to us and our helpers long before that time? No one! That's why each and every day is filled with tension Expectation and hope generate tension, as does fear-for example, e hear a noise inside or outside the house, when the guns go off or e read new ”proclaht be forced to go into hiding the to hide We don't kno ; of course, the nueneral population, but later on we'll no doubt be astonished at howto take Jews and Christians, with or without money, into their homes There're also an unbelievable number of people with false identity papers

Mrs van Daan When this beautiful da easier these days to obtain false IDs, she immediately proposed that we each have oneto it, as if Father and Mr van Daan werethe s, and her Putti is often exasperated But that's not surprising, because one day Kerli announces, ”When this is allover, I' as I can reo to Jerusale optimist, but he always has his reasons

Mr Dusselto contradict His Majesty had better think twice In Alfred Dussel's home his word is law, but that doesn't suit Anne Frank in the least

What the other members of the Annex family think about the war doesn't matter When it comes to politics, these four are the only ones who count Actually, only two of them do, but Madame van Daan and Dussel include themselves as well TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1943 Dearest Kit, I recently witnessed a fierce dogfight between Gerlish pilots Unfortunately, a couple of Allied air plane Ouralong the side of the road, and one of theht for his cigarette, and then told him the crew had consisted of six men The pilot had been burned to death, and the fifth crew member had hidden himself somewhere The Gerout of a fla plane, how can anyone have such presence of ht a fire every other day to burn our vegetable peelings and garbage We can't throw anything into trash cans, because the warehouse eht see it One se students are being asked to sign an official statement to the effect that they ”syhty percent have decided to obey the dictates of their conscience, but the penalty will be severe Any student refusing to sign will be sent to a German labor camp What's to becoot to do hard labor in Ger so much noise that Mother shut the as in Piht above our heads, we heard Mrs van D leap up, as if she'd been bitten by Mouschi This was followed by a loud boom, which sounded as if a firebohts!” I screamed

Pim switched on the lamp I expected the roo happened We all rushed upstairs to see as going on Mr and Mrs van D had seen a red glow through the open , and he thought there was a fire nearby, while she was certain our house was ablaze Mrs van D was already standing beside her bed with her knees knocking when the booarette, and we crawled back into bed Less than fifteenout of bed and went downstairs to Dussel' s room to seek the comfort she was unable to find with her spouse Dussel welcomed her with the words ”Cohter, and the roar of the guns bothered us no more; our fears had all been swept away

Yours, Anne

SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 1943

Dearest Kitty, The poem Father composed for my birthday is too nice to keep to ot volunteered to translate it into Dutch See for yourself whether Margot hasn't done herself proud It begins with the usual suest a, for we have the chore Of becoot experience! Take it from me!”

”We've done this all before, you see

We know the ropes, we know the same”

Since tis are nothing but fluff, But everyone else's are heavier stuff: Faultfinding coht, But it's hard for your parents, try as they ht, To treat you with fairness, and kindness as well; Nitpicking's a habit that's hard to dispel

Men you're living with old folks, all you can do Is put up with their nagging-it's hard but it's true

The pill o, For it's meant to keep the peace, you know

Thetiainst your Brain

You read and study nearly all the day, Determined to chase the boredom away

The more difficult question, much harder to bear, Is ”What on earth do I have to wear?

I've got no ht, My shi+rt is a loincloth, I'm really a siaht!

To put on ued with sothe part about food to rhy it out But aside froood poehly spoiled and have received a nu book on y Nor can I complain about the lack of candy; everyone had dipped into their last reserves As the Benjaot more than I deserve Yours, Anne

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1943

Dearest Kitty, Heaps of things have happened, but I often think I' you with my dreary chitchat and that you'd just as soon have fewer letters So I'll keep the news brief

Mr Voskuijl wasn't operated on for his ulcer after all Once the doctors had hi table and opened him up, they saw that he had cancer It was in such an advanced stage that an operation was pointless So they stitched hiain, kept him in the hospital for three weeks, fed hiivable error: they told the poor man exactly as in store for hi at ho about his approaching death I feel very sorry for hio out; otherwise, I'd visit him as often as I could and help take his er let us knohat's being said and done in the warehouse, which is a disaster for us Mr Voskuijl was our greatest source of help and suppor when it came to safety measures We miss him very much

Next month it's our turn to hand over our radio to the authorities Mr Klei us to replace our beautiful cabinet radio It's a pity we have to turn in our big Philips, but when you're in hiding, you can't afford to bring the authorities down on your heads Of course, we'll put the ”baby” radio upstairs What's a clandestine radio when there are already clandestine Jews and clandestine et hold of an old radio that they can hand over instead of their ”roorse and worse, the radio, with its wondrous voice, helps us not to lose heart and to keep telling ourselves, ”Cheer up, keep your spirits high, things are bound to get better!”

Yours, Anne

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 1943

Dear Kitty, To get back to the subject of child-rearing (for the u my best to be helpful, friendly and kind and to do all I can to keep the rain of rebukes down to a light drizzle It's not easy trying to behave like a model child with people you can't stand, especially when you don't etsexactly what I think (even though no one ever asks my opinion or cares one way or another) Of course, I often forget er when they're unfair, so that they spend the next irl in the world Don't you think I'rouchy type, because then I ht become sour and bad-tes, but it's easier when so raked over the coals

Further, I've decided (after a great deal of thought) to drop the shorthand First, so that I have more time for my other subjects, and second, because of hted and should have had glasses ages ago (Ugh, won't I look like a dope!) But as you know, people in hiding can't

Yesterday all anyone here could talk about was Anne's eyes, because Mother had suggested I go to the ophthal thisoutside! Just think of it, walking down the street! I can't ilad But it's not as simple as all that; the various authorities who had to approve such a step were unable to reach a quick decision They first had to carefully weigh all the difficulties and risks, though Miep was ready to set off iray coat froht have belonged to my little sister We lowered the hem, but I still couldn't button it I'm really curious to see what they decide, only I don't think they'll ever work out a plan, because the British have landed in Sicily and Father's all set for a ”quick finish”