From the Diary of Anne Frank, Pt. 2: Daddy began to tell us…

Daddy began to tell us about going into hiding ...

hiding.

Where would we go?

In a town or the country?

In a house or a cottage?

Where?

How?

When?

These were the questions I was not allowed to ask!

I only know we must disappear of our own accord

and not wait until they come to fetch us.

We put on heaps of clothes as if we were going to the North Pole.

No one in our situation would have dared to go out with a suitcase.

I had on two vests, two pairs of socks, three pairs of knickers,

a dress, a jacket, a coat, a woolly scarf, and still more ...

We didn’t care about impressions ...

We only wanted to escape – to escape and arrive safely.

To escape – only this ...

Nothing else mattered.

Dear Kitty ...

I expect you will be interested to hear what it feels like to disappear.

I can’t tell you how oppressive it is.

We have to whisper and tread lightly,

otherwise someone might hear us.

We might be discovered and shot ...

We are quiet, quiet as mice.

Who, three months ago, would have guessed

that quick-silver Anne would have to sit still for hours ...

and what is more ... could!