Read Online Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex by Anne Frank - Free Book Online
Authors: Anne Frank
Ads: Link
there’s a big difference between his weekday clothes and his Sunday best. On weekdays he wears overalls. In fact, you can say without hesitation that he and his overalls are inseparable, since he won’t allow them to be washed very often. The only reason I can think of is that he’s afraid his beloved garment will fall topieces in the wash and have to be thrown out. At any rate, it was washed recently, which is how you can tell it’s blue. He also has a blue kerchief (another inseparable item) knotted round his neck, a thick brown leather belt round his waist, and white woollen socks, so that whether it’s a Monday, a Tuesday or any other day of the week, you can recognize Peter right away. On Sundays, however, his outfit undergoes a radical change. A nice suit, a nice pair of shoes, a shirt, a tie – well, there’s no need for me to list the rest, since we all know what decent clothes look like.
So much for his appearance. My opinion of Peter himself has changed drastically of late. I used to think he was stupid and boring. Now I think he’s neither of these, and everyone will agree when I say that he’s turned out to be quite nice.
I’m absolutely convinced that he’s honest and generous. He’s always been modest and helpful, but I have the feeling that he’s much more sensitive than people realize or would ever suspect.
One thing he’s fond of and which I absolutely mustn’t forget is the cats. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Mouschi or Boche, and I think they compensate quite a lot for the love he needs but doesn’t get.
He isn’t afraid either – quite the opposite, in fact, without showing off like other boys of his age. Nor is he the least bit stupid. In particular, I think he has an excellent memory.
I hardly need to tell you that he’s handsome, since that’s obvious to everyone who knows him. He has terrific hair – thick, brown and curly – and bluish-grey eyes. As forhis other features…well, describing faces has always been my weak point, so when the war’s over I’ll paste a picture of him in this book, along with pictures of the rest of us in hiding here, so that I won’t have to describe him further with my pen.
Tuesday, 22 February 1944
The Den of Iniquity
D ON’T BE SHOCKED – I’m not planning to give examples to illustrate the above title. I only chose it because I ran across the phrase yesterday in a magazine that I was reading.
No doubt you’re wondering what it referred to, so I’ll explain. The ‘den of iniquity’ was used in the magazine ( Cinema & Theater , no. 8) to refer to the use of nude models, which the reviewer apparently thought was indecent. Now, it’s certainly not my intention to argue that he’s wrong, but in my opinion Dutch people tend to frown on scanty dress.
This is known as prudishness. On the one hand, it can be good. On the other hand, if children are raised to think that even the slightest bit of bare skin is indecent, after a certain amount of time adolescents are bound to wonder, ‘Are they all stark raving mad?’
And I couldn’t agree more. Modesty and prudishness can be taken too far, which is certainly the case in the Netherlands. Actually, it’s quite paradoxical – just mentionthe word ‘naked’, and everyone will stare at you as if you’re the most depraved person in the world.
Don’t think I’m like those people who long for a return to the days of primitive societies, when everyone was walking around in animal skins. Not at all. Still, it would be more natural if we were a bit freer, a bit more casual.
And now I have a question for you. ‘Do you also put clothes on the flowers you’ve picked and refuse to talk about their delicate parts?’
I don’t think there’s a very big difference between people and nature, and since we’re also part of nature, why should we be ashamed of the way nature made us?
Tuesday, 22 February 1944
Happiness
B EFORE I BEGIN with the actual story, I need to give
So much for his appearance. My opinion of Peter himself has changed drastically of late. I used to think he was stupid and boring. Now I think he’s neither of these, and everyone will agree when I say that he’s turned out to be quite nice.
I’m absolutely convinced that he’s honest and generous. He’s always been modest and helpful, but I have the feeling that he’s much more sensitive than people realize or would ever suspect.
One thing he’s fond of and which I absolutely mustn’t forget is the cats. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Mouschi or Boche, and I think they compensate quite a lot for the love he needs but doesn’t get.
He isn’t afraid either – quite the opposite, in fact, without showing off like other boys of his age. Nor is he the least bit stupid. In particular, I think he has an excellent memory.
I hardly need to tell you that he’s handsome, since that’s obvious to everyone who knows him. He has terrific hair – thick, brown and curly – and bluish-grey eyes. As forhis other features…well, describing faces has always been my weak point, so when the war’s over I’ll paste a picture of him in this book, along with pictures of the rest of us in hiding here, so that I won’t have to describe him further with my pen.
Tuesday, 22 February 1944
The Den of Iniquity
D ON’T BE SHOCKED – I’m not planning to give examples to illustrate the above title. I only chose it because I ran across the phrase yesterday in a magazine that I was reading.
No doubt you’re wondering what it referred to, so I’ll explain. The ‘den of iniquity’ was used in the magazine ( Cinema & Theater , no. 8) to refer to the use of nude models, which the reviewer apparently thought was indecent. Now, it’s certainly not my intention to argue that he’s wrong, but in my opinion Dutch people tend to frown on scanty dress.
This is known as prudishness. On the one hand, it can be good. On the other hand, if children are raised to think that even the slightest bit of bare skin is indecent, after a certain amount of time adolescents are bound to wonder, ‘Are they all stark raving mad?’
And I couldn’t agree more. Modesty and prudishness can be taken too far, which is certainly the case in the Netherlands. Actually, it’s quite paradoxical – just mentionthe word ‘naked’, and everyone will stare at you as if you’re the most depraved person in the world.
Don’t think I’m like those people who long for a return to the days of primitive societies, when everyone was walking around in animal skins. Not at all. Still, it would be more natural if we were a bit freer, a bit more casual.
And now I have a question for you. ‘Do you also put clothes on the flowers you’ve picked and refuse to talk about their delicate parts?’
I don’t think there’s a very big difference between people and nature, and since we’re also part of nature, why should we be ashamed of the way nature made us?
Tuesday, 22 February 1944
Happiness
B EFORE I BEGIN with the actual story, I need to give
Similar Books
