The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank-Monday-January- 24-1944-onwards

 The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank-Monday-January- 24-1944

In this diary entry, Anne writes that in her school days, anything about sex was discussed in a secret way. That always looked odd to her and she often wondered why people were so mysterious about this subject. Her father often told her the things she should have heard from her mother’s mouth. Anne writes that the topic of ‘sex’ was also not discussed by Peter’s parents with him. She wonders how much he knew or where from he got information about it.

The previous day, Margot and Anne, while peeling potatoes, were discussing whether Boche, the cat, was male or female. But Peter told them that it was a male cat. Anne began to laugh and Peter and Margot also joined in the laughter. Anne wanted to know rather indirectly if it was a tomcat (male), then why it was possible for it to become pregnant.

As a matter of fact, a few days ago, Peter had informed them that Boche was sure to have kittens as its stomach was bulging out. But the reason for its swollen stomach was ‘a bunch of stolen bones’ that it had swollen.

After that, Peter wanted to prove that the cat was male, not female. So Anne and he went down in the warehouse, but could not trace the cat. Later in the afternoon, Anne heard Peter go downstairs in the warehouse, so she also followed and reached there. At that time, Peter showed Anne that Boche was a tomcat. He was so natural in telling her about it that she did not feel awkward at all. 

After that they talked about the topic for some more time. They wanted to know what the organ was called and he would ask about it from his parents.

Friday, January 28, 1944 (P-172)

Anne spends many of her Sundays sorting out or looking over her movie star collection. She is much obliged to Mr. Kugler, who brings her a copy of Cinema & Theatre magazine. Anne remarks that the ‘worldly members’ of the Annex call it just a wastage of money, while, at times, they are surprised at her knowledge about the actors and actresses.

Bep also tells her on Saturdays the names of the show she is going to see with her boy-friend. Then Anne would speak the names of the leading actors and actresses. Sometimes her mother suggests to her to join movies later on as she has knowledge about plots, the names of the stars and the reviews she knows by heart.

Anne also writes as to how she gets sarcastic remarks on her hair-styles. She is sick of such remarks.

Friday, January 28, 1944

In this entry, Anne writes that she is tired of hearing the same dull topics again and again in the Annex. It they do not have any topic on the politics to talk about at the mealtime, then her mother and Mrs. van Daan start talking about their childhood which they have repeated several times. Dussel also talk on his dull topics.

Jan and Mr. Kleiman talk about people who have gone underground. There are many resistance groups, for example, “Free Netherland”. They produce ‘forged identity cards’ and also provide financial help to the people, who are in hidings. Anne appreciates these people, who risk their own life while helping others. 

She also appreciates the office-employees in the warehouse, who are helping them. They never uttered even a single word about the trouble they are facing while supporting the inmates of the Annex. They come upstairs everyday and talk to them abo0ut business and politics. They also talk to women about food and wartime difficulties. They do not forget to talk to the children about books and newspapers. They always keep their smiling faces to them; bring them flowers and gifts on birthdays and holidays. 

Anne calls them heroes like the people who are fighting against the Germans in the battlefields. They are proving their heroism everyday by their good spirits and affection to the inmates of the Secret Annex.

Thursday, February 3, 1944

The news about invasion in Holland is spread everywhere. “In the event of a British landing in Holland, the Germans will do what they can to defend the country, even flooding it, if necessary.” People in Holland, especially in Amsterdam, are at a loss to understand as to what they should do if the water in the streets rose above their waists. There were different responses to such a tricky question. Anne is afraid that the warehouse would collapse in the event of flood.

 The second question that needed attention was as to what they all should do if the Germans evacuate Amsterdam.

They continued discussing the possible solutions to the problem. They also think to stay in the Annex. In that situation, they would ask Miep and Kleiman to bring some blankets. They would also order some extra food grains. Jan can try to bring some more beans.

In this way, they try to assess what supplies they have with them in the Annex and come to know that they have sufficient supplies with them.

Thus, different proposals were coming to them from each member of the Secret Annex. These were: to hide money-bags in clothes if they were to leave the Annex; to make a list of what to take first if they have to run; to two people on the look-out, one in the loft at the front, another in the back, etc, etc.

They also talked about water. Thus, for the whole day, the discussion centred on the word ‘invasion’.