The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank-Monday-September 28-29

 

The Diary of a Young Girl-Anne Frank

Monday, September 28, 1942

Anne makes this entry by saying that she would like to write about one of their usual clashes. Up to now, she believed that ‘bickering’ (arguing or quarrelling over petty issues) was a common thing found in children. But she had to change her opinion now and She believe that the grown up people were more involved in squabbles (quarrels), when they remain together for most of the time.

They call these quarrels ‘discussion’.

Anne feels hurt when she says that “they criticize everything,…about me: my behavior, my personality, my manners, every inch of me, from head to toe, and back again, in the subject of gossip and debate. Harsh words and shouts are constantly being flung at my head….but I can’t! I have no intention of taking their insults lying down (without protest).

…… I make them see they ought to attend to their own manners instead of mine. How dare they act that way! It’s simply barbaric (uncivilized)….I will give them the taste of their medicine, and then they’ll change their tune. Am I really so bad mannered, headstrong (obstinate), stubborn (headstrong), pushy (aggressive and forceful); stupid, lazy, etc., etc…. as the van Daans say I  am? No, of course not, I know I have many faults and shortcomings, but they blew them all out of proportion (exaggerated). If you only know! Kitty, how I seethe () when they scold and mock…”

After this, Anne narrates her father’sdiffidence (shyness). Next, there  was discussion between Anne’s mother and Mrs. Van Daan. Mr. van Daan also expresses his opinion on the discussion. Mrs. Van Daan continues speaking in a mixture of German and Dutch until she is tangled in her own words. 

Finally she was about tostand up from her chair to go when her eyes fell on Anne, who was involuntarily shaking her head. Mrs. Van Daan turned around and gave Anne a severe scolding. Anne describes here the expression on her face minutely and says that those were comical, mean and ill-mannered.

She concludes that she learnt a great fact the real character of a person is revealed after a fight. (667 words)

Tuesday, September 29, 1942

We come to know from this entry that in the hiding all of them had to face several difficulties. One of the difficulties was that they had to use washtub, not bathtub for bathing. Hot water was available only downstairs in her father’s private office.

Anne says all of them were not alike, so each of them had selected a different place to wash. Peter takes bath in the office kitchen even though it has a glass door. Mr. van Daan takes his bath upstairs. Mrs. Van Daan has to decide for the best place. Anne’s father takes bath in his private office and her mother in the kitchen behind a fire screen. Anne & Margot have declared  the front office to be the place for their bath.

Peter gave Anne idea to take bath in the spacious office bath-room. She could take bath there freely without the fear of being seen.

She further writes that the plumber was at work downstairs on Wednesday. He was working on the pipes and drains from the office bathroom to the hallway to stop pipes from freezing during cold winter. The people in the hiding place upstairs had to remain extra cautious. They could not run water during the day. They had to use canning jars to attend to their natural calls. The most difficult task for Anne was to sit quiet for the whole day.