tuesday, april 27, 1943

dearest kitty,

the house is still trembling from the aftereffects of the quarrels. everyone is mad at everyone else: mother and i, mr. van daan and father, mother and mrs. van d. terrific atmosphere, don't you think? once again anne's usual list of shortcomings has been extensively aired.

our german visitors were back last saturday. they stayed until six. we all sat upstairs, not daring to move an inch. if there's no one else working in the building or in the neighborhood, you can hear every single step in the private office. i've got ants in my pants again from having to sit still so long.

mr. voskuijl has been hospitalized, but mr. kleiman's back at the office. his stomach stopped bleeding sooner than it normally does. he told us that the county clerk's office took an extra beating because the firemen flooded the entire building instead of just putting out the fire. that does my heart good!

the carlton hotel has been destroyed. two british planes loaded with firebombs landed right on top of the

german officers' club. the entire corner of vijzelstraat and singel has gone up in flames. the number of air strikes on german cities is increasing daily. we haven't had a good night's rest in ages, and i have bags under my eyes from lack of sleep.

our food is terrible. breakfast consists of plain, unbuttered brea and ersatz coffee. for the last two weeks lunch has been e. spinach or cooked lettuce with huge potatoes that have a rotten, sweetish taste. if you're trying to diet, the annex is the place to be! upstairs they complain bitterly, but we don't think it's such a tragedy.

all the dutch men who either fought or were mobilized in 1940 have been called up to work in prisoner-of-war camps. i bet they're taking this precaution because of the invasion!

yours, anne