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bep had a nervous fit last week because she had so many errands to do。 ten times a day people were sending her out for something； each time insisting she go right away or go again or that shed done it all wrong。 and when you think that she has her regular office work to do； that mr。 kleiman is sick； that miep is home with a cold and that bep herself has a sprained ankle； boyfriend troubles and a grouchy father； its no wonder shes at the end of her tether。 we forted her and told her that if shed put her foot down once or twice and say she didnt have the time； the shopping lists would shrink of their own accord。
saturday there was a big drama； the likes of which have never been seen here before。
it started with a discussion of van maaren and ended in a general argument and tears。
dussel plained to mother that he was being treated like a leper； that no one was friendly to him and that； after all； he hadnt done anything to deserve it。 this was followed by a lot of sweet talk； which luckily mother didnt fall for this time。 she told him we were disappointed in him and that； on more than one occasion； hed been a source of great annoyance。 dussel promised her the moon； but； as usual； we havent seen so much as a beam。
theres trouble brewing with the van daans； i can tell！ fathers furious because theyre cheating us： theyve been holding back meat and other things。 oh； what kind of
bombshell is about to burst now？ if only i werent so involved in all these skirmishes！
if only i could leave here！ theyre driving us crazy！
yours； anne
w w w/xiao shu otx t
OCTOBER； 1943
锛堝皬锛忚锛弔锛弜t锝滃ぉ锝滃爞锛�
sunday； october 17； 1943
dearest kitty；
mr。 kleiman is back； thank goodness！ he looks a bit pale； and yet he cheerfully set off to sell some clothes for mr。 van daan。 the disagreeable fact is that mr。 van daan has run out of money。 he lost his last hundred guilders in the warehouse； which is still creating trouble for us： the men are wondering how a hundred guilders could wind up in the warehouse on a monday morning。 suspicion abounds。 meanwhile； the hundred guilders have been stolen。 whos the thief？
but i was talking about the money shortage。 mrs。 van d。 has scads of dresses； coats and shoes； none of which she feels she can do without。 mr。 van d。s suit is difficult to sell； and peters bike was put on the block； but is back again； since nobody wanted it。
but the story doesnt end there。 you see； mrs。 van d。 is going to have to part with her fur coat。 in her opinion； the firm should pay for our upkeep； but thats ridiculous。
they just had a flaming row about it and have entered the 〃oh； my sweet putti〃 and 〃darling kerli〃 stage of reconciliation。
my mind boggles at the profanity this honorable house has had to endure in the past month。 father walks around with his lips pressed together； and whenever he hears his name； he looks up in alarm； as ifhes afraid hell be called upon to resolve another delicate problem。 mothers so wrought up her cheeks are blotched with red； margot plains of headaches； dussel cant sleep； mrs。 van d。 frets and fumes all day long； and ive gone pletely round the bend。 to tell you the truth； i sometimes forget who were at odds with and who were not。 the only way to take my mind off it is to study； and ive been doing a lot of that lately。
yours； anne
friday； october 29；1943
my dearest kitty；
mr。 kleiman is out again； his stomach wont give him a moments peace。 he doesnt even know whether its stopped bleeding。 he came to tell us he wasnt feeling well
and was going home； and for the first time he seemed really down。
mr。 and mrs。 van d。 have had more raging battles。 the reason is simple： theyre broke。 they wanted to sell an overcoat and a suit of mr。 van d。 s； but were unable to find any buyers。 his prices were way too high。
some time ago mr。 kleiman was talking about a furrier he knows。 this gave mr。 van d。 the idea of selling his wifes fur coat。 its made of rabbit skin； and shes had it for seventeen years。 mrs。 van d。 got 325 guilders for it； an enormous amount。 she wanted to keep the money herself to buy new clothes after the war； and it took some doing before mr。 van d。 could make her understand that it was desperately needed to cover household expenses。
you cant imagine the screaming； shouting； stamping of feet and swearing that went on。
it was terrifying。 my family stood holding its breath at the bottom of the stairs； in case it might be necessary to drag them apart。 all the bickering； tears and nervous tension have bee such a stress and strain that i fall into my bed at night crying and thanking my lucky stars that i have half an hour to myself。
im doing fine； except ive got no appetite。 i keep hearing： 〃goodness； you look awful！〃 i must admit theyre doing their best to keep me in condition： theyre plying me with dextrose； cod…liver oil； brewers yeast and calcium。 my nerves often get the better of me； especially on sundays； thats when i really feel miserable。 the atmosphere is stifling； sluggish； leaden。 outside； you dont hear a single bird； and a deathly； oppressive silence hangs over the house and clings to me as if it were going to drag me into the deepest regions of the underworld。 at times like these； father； mother and margot dont matter to me in the least。 i wander from room to room； climb up and down the stairs and feel like a songbird whose wings have been ripped off and who keeps hurling itself against the bars of its dark cage。 〃let me out； where theres fresh air and laughter！〃 a voice within me cries。 i dont even bother to reply anymore； but lie down on the divan。 sleep makes the silence and the terrible fear go by more quickly； helps pass the time； since its impossible to kill it。
yours； anne
w w w。x iaoshu otx t。c o m
NOVEMBER； 1943
灏弤璇磣t。xt‘澶﹡鍫�
wednesday； november 3； 1943
dearest kitty；
to take our minds off matters as well as to develop them； father ordered a catalog from a correspondence school。 margot pored through the thick brochure three times
without finding anything to her liking and within her budget。 father was easier to satisfy and decided to write and ask for a trial lesson in 〃elementary latin。〃 no sooner said than done。 the lesson arrived； margot set to work enthusiastically and decided to take the course； despite the expense。 its much too hard for me； though id really like to learn latin。
to give me a new project as well； father asked mr。 kleiman for a childrens bible so i could finally learn something about the new testament。
〃are you planning to give anne a bible for hanukkah？〃 margot asked； somewhat perturbed。
〃yes。 。 。 well； maybe st。 nicholas day would be a better occasion；〃 father replied。
jesus and hanukkah dont exactly go together。
since the vacuum cleaners broken； i have to take an old brush to the rug every night。
the windows closed； the lights on； the stoves burning； and there i am brushing away at the rug。 〃thats sure to be a problem；〃 i thought to myself the first time。 〃therere bound to be plaints。〃 i was right： mother got a headache from the thick clouds of dust whirling around the room； margots new latin dictionary was caked with dirt； and rim