November/December 1942
Saturday, 7 November, 1942
Anne writes that Mummy and Margot stick together, and she is jealous when Daddy praises Margot. She loves Margot but wants to be taken seriously too. Anne writes about her relationship with her mother:
"I only look at her as a mother, and she just doesn't succeed in being that to me; I have to be my own mother. I've drawn myself apart from them all; I am my own skipper and later on I shall see where I come to land. All this comes about particularly because I have in my mind's eye an image of what a perfect mother and wife should be; and in her whom I must call 'Mother' I find no trace of that image." Sunday, 7 November, 1942, pg. 41
She feels the inner conflict of a dual role in the family: Anne who is sensible and mature; and Anne who is silly and stupid. She hates being looked down upon and misunderstood, and she loves her diary because it does neither and is patient with her.
Topic Tracking: Family 10
Monday, 9 November 1942
They celebrate Peter's birthday on Sunday. They hear that the British have landed in North Africa. They hear the famous statement by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: "'This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.'" Monday, 9 November 1942, pg. 42
She refers to the Van Daans as greedy pigs. There are four illegal ration cards. Food is expensive. They buy dried food, including beans, one sack of which breaks open, showering Anne with beans up to her ankles. Peter laughs. Anne mentions that Daddy has recovered.
Topic Tracking: Optimism 4
Tuesday, 10 November, 1942
Anne tells Kitty that they are going to take in an eighth person, since conditions for Jews are getting worse. Daddy wouldn't accept any more Van Daans, so they take in a dentist named Albert Dussel. He will sleep in Anne's room.
Thursday, 12 November, 1942
Dussel wants to wait a couple of days and settle his accounts before disappearing, which Anne thinks is pretty crazy.
Tuesday, 17 November, 1942
Dussel is shocked to see the Franks, thinking they were in Belgium. He is impressed with the Secret Annexe, and they give him a copy of the rules and guidelines for living in the Annexe, such as speaking softly, fat-free diet, lessons, small pets, mealtimes, bathing, and radio.
Thursday, 19 November, 1942
Anne finds Dussel pleasant, and understands that she must sacrifice some of her privacy to hide him. Dussel tells them the Germans are deporting entire families. Anne writes:
"I feel wicked sleeping in a warm bed, while my dearest friends have been knocked down or have fallen into a gutter somewhere out in the cold night. I get frightened when I think of close friends who have now been delivered into the hands of the cruelest brutes that walk the earth. And all because they are Jews!" Thursday, 19 November, 1942, pg. 48
Topic Tracking: Holocaust 9
Friday, 20 November, 1942
When Miep brings them news about the fates of their friends, Mummy and Mrs. Van Daan cry, so she does not tell them much anymore. But they still have fun together, and Anne says that there is no point in having a "Secret Annexe of Gloom."
Topic Tracking: Optimism 5
Saturday, 28 November, 1942
They have used more than their ration of electricity, and as a result must not use any for two weeks. Anne has also discovered that Mr. Dussel is old-fashioned. She is confused by all the criticism she is receiving from everyone. She falls asleep sometimes wishing she were different. She apologizes for confusing Kitty, advising her to disregard the confusion.
Topic Tracking: Family 11
Monday, 7 December, 1942
They celebrate Chanukah with not much fuss. Christmas Eve, Miep decorates a large basket, which contains presents for all of them. Anne has never before celebrated Christmas, and finds it a wonderful introduction.
Topic Tracking: Optimism 6
Thursday, 10 December, 1942
They buy a lot of meat to preserve. They make a funny, chaotic mess making sausages. Dussel tries to be a dentist for Mrs. Van Daan, who throws a fit, driving the instrument even further into her tooth. Anne says it looks like a scene from "A Quack at Work."
Sunday, 13 December, 1942
Anne watches the dirty people walking outside. She and Margot decide that even if they were to clean them, by the next day they would be just as dirty again. She sees Jews outside and feels guilty.
Topic Tracking: Holocaust 10
Tuesday, 22 December, 1942
Mrs. Van Daan has a bruised rib and is milking the injury. Dussel does silly exercises, which keep Anne awake. She writes that she spends so much of her brainpower learning to be good that she won't have any left after the war.
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