1 Living free

Anne Frank

Chapter 1 Living free Annie ran down the stairs and onto the street as fast as she could, her skinny legs going at full pelt. She was meant to be doing her homework, but it was so boring. Margot, her perfect sister, might be happy sticking her nose in a book all day, but Anne wasn't. She stopped when she reached the flat around the corner. Then she sang, breathlessly, through the letter box. Five notes up and five notes down. It was her secret signal. The next moment Lies Goslar, her best friend, opened the door. Anne caught hold of her hand and pulled her outside. "Come on!" she said. "Let's go and play."

Their friend Sanne, and a crowd of other children, were already out on the sunny Amsterdam streets. Some were rolling hoops, others playing hopscotch or doing handstands against the wall. Anne was hopeless at handstands, but knew another way to get everyone's attention. "Watch this!" she cried, lifting her arm high in the air.

Anne waited until everyone was looking at her, then she swung her arm around as fast as she could. There was a loud CRACK! and her shoulder popped straight out of its socket. All the boys laughed and cheered. Hearing the sound of laughter, Anne's mother, Edith, glanced out the window and caught sight of Anne on the street below.

"I bet that girl hasn't done her homework," she thought with a sigh. It was always such a struggle with Anne. Even though her daughter was only seven, Edith was certain she would be a social butterfly all her life. Still, she was glad Anne had settled into Amsterdam life so easily. It was three years since the Franks had left Germany, but Edith still missed her home. And, as long as the Nazi Party ruled Germany, they couldn't go back. The Franks were Jewish and the Nazis hated Jews. Recently, the Nazis had fired Jews from their jobs, shut down Jewish shops and beaten up Jews on the street.

"We were right to leave when we did," thought Edith. "We couldn't have brought up our children in such a country." That night, Anne's father, Otto, put Anne to bed as usual. "Tell me a story!" Anne pleaded. "Can I have one about Good Paula and Naughty Paula? But this time tell me about Naughty Paula. She's more fun. "Margot prefers Good Paula," Otto remarked. "Well she would," Anne replied, huffily. It was hard having Margot as an older sister. She never got into trouble and was always neat and tidy. Otto guessed what she was thinking. "You could be good, too, Anne. You just have to learn to control yourself." "I'll try, Daddy, I promise, Anne said. "Anything to make you happy!" Otto laughed. "You little flatterer," he said, kissing her on the head.