THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL : THE DEFINITIVE EDITION ... - Fidele

What I'm most ashamed of is the way Father has forgiven me; he said he's going to
throw the letter in the stove, and he's being so nice to me now, as if he were the
one who'd done something wrong. Well, Anne, you still have a lot to learn. It's
time you made a beginning, in- stead of looking down at others and always giving
them the blame!
I've known a lot of sorrow, but who hasn't at my age? I've been putting on an act,
but was hardly even aware of it. I've felt lonely, but never desperate! Not like
Father, who once ran out into the street with a knife so he could put an end to it
all. I've never gone that far.
I should be deeply ashamed of myself, and I am. What's done can't be undone, but
at least you can keep it from happening again. I'd like to start all over, and
that shouldn't be difficult, now that I have Peter. With him supporting me, I know
I can do it! I'm not alone anymore. He loves me, I love him, I have my books, my
writing and my diary. I'm not all that ugly, or that stupid, I have a sunny
disposition, and I want to develop a good character!
Yes, Anne, you knew full well that your letter was unkind and untrue, but you were
actually proud of it! I'll take Father as my example once again, and I will
improve myself.
Yours, Anne M. Frank
MONDAY, MAY 8, 1944
Dearest Kitty,
Have I ever told you anything about our family? I don't think I have, so let me
begin. Father was born in Frankfurt am Main to very wealthy parents: Michael Frank
owned a bank and became a millionaire, and Alice Stern's parents were prominent
and well-to-do. Michael Frank didn't start out rich; he was a self-made man. In
his youth Father led the life of a rich man's son. Parties every week, balls,
banquets, beautiful girls, waltzing, dinners, a huge house, etc. After Grandpa
died, most of the money was lost, and after the Great War and inflation there was
nothing left at all. Up until the war there were still quite a few rich relatives.
So Father was extremely well-bred, and he had to laugh yesterday because for the
first time in his fifty-five years, he scraped out the frying pan at the table.
Mother's family wasn't as wealthy, but still fairly well-off, and we've listened
openmouthed to stories of private balls, dinners and engagement parties with 250
guests.
We're far from rich now, but I've pinned all my hopes on after the war. I can
assure you, I'm not so set on a bourgeois life as Mother and Margot. I'd like to
spend a year in Paris and London learning the languages and studying art history.
Compare that with Margot, who wants to nurse newborns in Palestine. I still have
visions of gorgeous dresses and fascinating people. As I've told you many times
before, I want to see the world and do all kinds of exciting things, and a little
money won't hurt!
This morning Miep told us about her cousin's engagement party, which she went to
on Saturday. The cousin's parents are rich, and the groom's are even richer. Miep
made our mouths water telling us about the food that was served: vegetable soup
with meatballs, cheese, rolls with sliced meat, hors d'oeuvres made with eggs and
roast beef, rolls with cheese, genoise, wine and cigarettes, and you could eat as
much as you wanted.