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Dear Kitty, Monday, 8 May, 1944
Have I ever really told you anything about our family?
I don't think I have, so I will begin now. My father's parents were very rich. His father had worked himself right up and his mother came from a prominent family who was also rich. So in his youth Daddy had a real little rich boy's upbringing, parties every week, balls, festivities, beautiful girls, dinners, a large home, etc., etc.
After Grandpa's death all the money was lost during the World War and the inflation that followed. Daddy was extremely well brought up and he laughed very much yesterday when, for the first time in his fifty-five years, he scraped out the frying pan at table.
Mummy's parents were rich too and we often listen openmouthed to stories of engagement parties of two hundred and fifty people, private balls and dinners. One certainly could no call us rich now, but all my hopes are pinned on after the war.
I can asssure you I'm not at all keen on a narrow, cramped existence like Mummy and
Margot. I'd adore to go to Paris for a year and London for a year to the learn the languages and study the history of art. Compare that with Margot, who wants to be amidwife in Palestine! I always long to see beautiful dresses and interesting people.
I want to see something of the world and do all kinds of exciting things. I've already told you this before. And a little money as well won't do any harm ...
Dear Kitty, Friday, 23 July, 1943
Just for fun I'm going to tell you each person's first wish, when we are allowed to go outside again. Margot and Mr. Van Daan long ... for a hot bath filled to overflowing and want to stay in it for half an hour. Mrs. Van Daan wants most to go and eat cream cakes ...Dussel thinks of nothing but seeing Lotje, his wife; Mummy of her cup of coffee; Daddy is going to visit Mr. Vossen first; Peter the town and a cinema, ... I long for a house of our own, to be able to move freely and to have some help with my work again at last, in other words--school.
Yours, Anne
Frank, Anne. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. New York: The American Reprint Co, 1959. 98, 209. Print.
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