The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank-Dec 13-22-1942-Jan 13-1943

 The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank
Sunday, Dec 13-22-1942-Jan 13-1943

Anne begins this entry by writing that it is dusky and she is sitting in the front office and writing in the dim light that is coming through a chink (a hole) in the heavy curtains. At the same time, she is watching people moving on the road out. They are walking past and seem to be in an uneasy hurry.

Another thing Anne describes is that the people in the neighbourhood are not attractive. The children are poor and dirty.

She even thinks of cleaning those poor children and change their clothes, but it was not wise to do that, as Margot told her.

There are also some other things to look at like cars, boats and the rain. She can hear the sound created by the street cars while living in the limited space of the hiding place. Their thoughts are centred on the Jews, food and politics. Then she remembered that she saw that two Jews the previous day and was surprised to see them.

After that, she describes a captain, his wife and their children, who live in a house boat. The captain has a little ‘yapping dog’.

Next, she writes that it has started raining. She call it a shame because most of the people are keeping umbrellas over their heads. Many of them are in rain coats.

Thursday, Dec 22, 1942

The inmates of the Secret Annex are happy because they are going to have extra butter for Christmas. On Tuesday morning, Anne made two cakes and some cookies. Her mother has instructed her “not to do any studying or reading until household chores are finished.

Mrs. Van Daan is just “crying in her bed” and is “nursing her bruised ribs”. At the same time, she is complaining every now and then (again and again). To get her bandaged changed. She is dissatisfied with what is done to her as service. Ann further says that she will be glad to if she becomes well very soon. She also appreciates her by saying that she is extraordinarily hard-working and keeps everything neat and clean. She is quite cheerful as long as she is strong mentally and physically.

As Anne makes too much noise, she hears too much “shh, shh” for her. Mr. Dussel has also become habitual of saying uttering “Shh, shh” to her all night.

As the days go by, Mr. Dussel has become more exasperating (annoying, irritating) and egotistical (one who is too much boastful about himself).

On Sundays, he switches on the light early in the morning to do exercises for ten minutes.

These ‘ten minutes’ seem ‘hours’ to Anne because her sleep is disturbed, not because of the light, but because he bumps every now and then against the chairs, which have been used to extend the bed and she puts her head on them. In this way, her sleep is disturbed. After completing exercises, he dresses up and then he bumps against the chairs and Anne’s sleep is disturbed her sleep.

Towards the end of this entry, we come to know as to how sensible she has become now. She discards (removes) the thoughts of doing revengeful activities to tease Mr. Dussel in the interest of peace. She writes that they have to remain sensible while doing any activity. She has learnt studying listening, holding tongue, helping others, being kind, making compromises, etc.

Wednesday, Jan 13, 1943

In this entry, Anne mentions about her new pastime, that is, about filling packages with ‘powdered gravy’. The name of the company is ‘Gies & Co.” They would earn money also by doing that kind of job. Mr. Kugler could not find anyone to fill them, so he offered them to do so. Anne says that the work is quite boring for them.

Anne’s narrative again touches the world outside the Secret Annex. She again feels disturbed to see the ‘poor helpless people being dragged out of their homes’ at any time. They are allowed to take with them only a small bag and very less money. Those people are also robbed on the way of their petty amount of money and their belongings which they carry in their small bags. They do not care for their children, who are often left at school while picking the parents from their homes. If women are in the market, their houses are sealed and other members are picked up.

The Germans are not only torturing the Jews in Holland, but the Christians there are also under constant fear because their sons are forcibly being sent to Germany. Thousands of people have been killed in Russia & Africa. The whole world seems to be caught up in the devastating flames of the war. Although the Allies are doing their job better, yet there seems no end to the present state of affairs.

After explaining the outside scene, Anne writes that they are safe in the Secret Annex. Anne here also writes as to how she feels guilty and selfish to think about ‘new clothes and shoes’ after the war is over.

She also thinks about children living in the neighbourhood, who ‘run about in their thin shirts and wooden shoes’. “They have no coats, no caps, no stockings” and no one ois there to help them. Things have reached such a pass in Holland that hordes (crowds) of children have been forced to beg in the streets for a piece of bread.

She ends up this entry by saying that she can write more about the suffering brought by the war, but it would make her more miserable. Both the Jews and the Christians are anxiously waiting for the end of the war.