Lockdown With Anne
Posted on: December 6, 2020
- In: Books | Christmas | Memories | short stories
- 63 Comments
Here is my story included in the anthology With Love Comes Hope which I wrote about here
Lockdown With Anne by Darlene Foster
It’s day ten of the lockdown and I hate it. At first, I thought it would be great not to have to get up early and go to school. But Mom’s not very good at home-schooling. She loses patience with me and she doesn’t know anything about math. I miss my friends. Sure, we connect on Instagram, but it’s not the same. I missed two birthday parties already. By the time I get to wear my new top, it probably won’t fit anymore. My pajamas are wearing out. I’m tired of Mom’s cooking and wish we could at least get a take-away. This lockdown sucks big time.
I’m bored with TV and I’ve watched all the DVDs we have. I didn’t think I would miss school. Maybe I’ll check out a book my teacher gave me to read the last day of school. She said I would like it.
~~~
Wow! Midnight and I’m still reading. This book is so good. It’s about a girl, Anne, who’s thirteen years old, like me. She has to hide in a small apartment during World War II in Holland, along with her family. They are actually German so you’d think they’d be OK but they are also Jewish. If the Nazi soldiers find them, they will be sent to a concentration camp and most likely killed like so many other Jewish people.
It isn’t just Anne, her parents and older sister living in this hidden annex, which nobody knows about. They’re sharing the place with another couple, their son and an old man. Anne makes friends with the couple’s son, Peter. But, here’s the thing, they can’t make any noise during the day because there are people working downstairs in the office and warehouse. They can’t even flush the toilet. And, they have to keep all the windows closed and the curtains drawn.
How awful. No fresh air or sunshine. I would go totally crazy.
When Anne turned thirteen, just before they had to go into hiding, she got a diary for her birthday. So, to keep herself busy while in isolation, she writes in it everyday. She actually wants to be a writer one day. She writes things like “I hope I shall be able to confide in you completely, as I have never been able to do in anyone before, and I hope that you will be a great support and comfort to me. “ She names her diary Kitty because she has no girlfriends to talk to.
I am so loving this book. There are even pictures of the rooms and the bookcase that hides the stairway to the secret space. It’s called The Diary of a Young Girl and is a true story written by Anne Frank.
~~~
I finished the book and I’m so sad. In the end, after two years of hiding and being very careful and quiet, someone tells the soldiers about them. They are found and taken away. Anne doesn’t survive. In fact, her dad is the only one who lives. After the war, he comes back to the building, finds her diary and has it published. So her dream of becoming a writer did come true, but she doesn’t live to see this happen.
~~~
It’s day fourteen of our lockdown and Dad says it will be another two weeks at least, probably more. Many people are getting sick and dying. I don’t want to die. I want to grow up and get married and have kids. I want to go to Holland and visit Anne Frank’s house.
I’m doing my homework online and not arguing with my mom as much. Yesterday we made chocolate brownies together and then we all completed a huge jigsaw puzzle. It was fun.
And, we can make noise. I can sing as loud as I want and even go in my front yard and make dance videos. At eight o’clock every evening, we all go on our terraces or balconies and clap in appreciation of the healthcare workers, police, ambulance, firefighters and grocery store staff for keeping us safe and well.
I don’t have to be afraid I’ll be taken away because of my religion. This lockdown sucks but it is so much better than what Anne Frank had to deal with.
I will get through this.
With Love Comes Hope, filled with a variety of fiction and nonfiction stories, would make a great Christmas gift.
This book can be purchased in print or digital format on most Amazon sites.
Text and Image copyright © 2020 Darlene Foster – All Rights Reserved
63 Responses to "Lockdown With Anne"
December 7, 2020 at 2:19 am
What a great way to wrap the past and present together!
I toured the Holocaust Museum in Richmond several years ago. The museum’s founder showed some of the hiding places used in Lithuania (where he was from) and it was awful. His cousin and girlfriend lived underground in a potato patch. They were caught when they tried to rescue his girlfriend’s parents. They did not survive the camps.
As hard as the lockdowns were, they could have been so much worse. Thanks for that reminder at the end.
Nancy
December 7, 2020 at 2:23 am
Thanks for your comments, Nancy. Sometimes we have to remember things have been much worse. A sad story, but all too familiar, about the cousin and his girlfriend in Lithuania.
December 7, 2020 at 2:42 am
We met the founder to the museum that day. His remembrance of his family and what happened was incredible. He recreated the Nuremberg trials at the end, with pictures of each defendant, their justification why they were right, and what the verdict was. The visual representation that gave was just heart wrenching. I was glad to see it.
He also has exhibits on how genocide still happens today, which is good for the students who go through there. It keeps it relevant to today.
December 7, 2020 at 2:20 am
I love the comparison to Anne Frank’s situation. Well done.
I feel like I live in a different world than that of those online. My life hasn’t changed much at all in 2020. If anything, it is better. But I live in a rural area where things keep ticking along and people still do their thing. My kids are still 4-wheeling, horseback riding, mudding in old trucks, fishing, camping, working and hanging out with friends.
I can’t imagine living in a city during this time or any other time for that matter. I’m a country girl at heart and while I had a chance to live in the city, I chose not to.
While some will remember this year as a scar upon their memory, for us, it will just be another bump, just like 9/11, Hurricane Juan, White Juan and that March from the North that buried us under five feet of snow.
December 7, 2020 at 3:50 am
I think it has been safer and easier for those living in the country, it has not been bad for us in our little beach town either. But it has been hard on urban dwellers. Imagine having to homeschool 3 young children while living in a small apartment and not being able to go outside. To me, it has been like a dystopian book/movie. Unbelievable but real all the same. Pleased to hear you and your family have been able to carry on as usual. xo
December 7, 2020 at 3:37 am
A lovely short story, Darlene. Thanks for sharing it here.
December 7, 2020 at 6:56 am
You make it seem easy to inhabit a child’s point of view, but it’s often challenging.
I agree with Anne. TV doesn’t have much to offer, butI knew that before the lockdown.
December 7, 2020 at 7:12 am
I really like your story! Using Anne Frank’s experience and comparing it to the current lockdown the narrator is experiencing is such an effective way to deliver a message about historical perspective to young people.
December 7, 2020 at 8:31 am
Thanks, Liz. I’m glad you liked the story and that it works.
December 7, 2020 at 12:13 pm
You’re welcome, Darlene. I meant to mention also that the voice seems spot-on to me.
December 7, 2020 at 10:06 am
This is a beautiful story, Darlene. It’s so true, we may think we have it bad, but there are others who have been through much worse.
December 7, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Thanks, Jacquie! It needs to be put into perspective. Stay safe.
December 7, 2020 at 10:59 am
Very moving, Darlene. Our restrictions are nothing compared to what Anne and her family coped with.
December 7, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Excellent way of weaving history into modern times, Darlene. I liked your story very much. Kids need to read books like Anne Frank to understand that we can never let what happened to the Jews happen again to anyone.
December 7, 2020 at 6:42 pm
I so agree. It is the best book for teaching tolerance. Thanks, Pete.
December 7, 2020 at 9:14 pm
That’s beautiful, Darlene. I love the character growth and change in attitude.
December 7, 2020 at 10:09 pm
Darlene, a wonderful story our time which has me teary-eyed! It’s easy to forget that even if life seems hard during the lockdowns we are so very fortunate in many ways. This was a moving story that flowed and captivated me from the very first sentence. Well done – you’re a natural and gifted writer! xx
December 8, 2020 at 2:57 am
A wonderful story about keeping things in perspective, Darlene. Staying home for a few weeks and wearing a mask is no big deal compared to what people have and continue to endure. Congrats on the anthology!
December 8, 2020 at 3:43 am
Thanks for sharing the story with us. It puts the restrictions we must endure during the pandemic in a proper perspective. We need to foster a sense of community, to care for one another.
December 8, 2020 at 4:18 am
What a perfect analogy! I loved your story as it is so timely. Beautifully told. Maybe all kids need to be handed a copy of the Diary of Anne Frank and write their own thoughts.
December 8, 2020 at 4:24 am
I think so too. I wrote about Anne Frank in Amanda in Holland. After reading the book, an eleven-year-old asked if she could read my copy of The Diary of Anne Frank. I bought her a copy for her own collection.
December 8, 2020 at 6:02 am
What a great reminder as we here in California are back into another tight lock-down. I loved Anne Frank and have thought about what they went through numerous times over my life. Puts so much into perspective….thanks for sharing this Darlene!
December 8, 2020 at 6:03 am
Thanks, Kirt! Reading Anne Frank had a profound effect on me. Stay safe and well.
December 8, 2020 at 6:11 am
Beautifully done, Darlene. It’s a parallel that resonates. Congratulations on being included. What a lovely collection.
December 8, 2020 at 8:47 am
Thanks, Cath. The stories are varied in the anthology. I was pleased to be included.
December 9, 2020 at 5:24 am
Beautiful story and, wow, is it timely or what? And all of us adults who complain about the restrictions can learn something here as well. Love it.
December 9, 2020 at 4:58 pm
What a beautiful story, and a great reminder!
December 10, 2020 at 8:35 am
Such a great perspective here, Darlene. I’m afraid we all have become so spoiled with all that we have, that we whine when some of it is taken away, and comparably, we still have it easy. Well done.. xo
December 11, 2020 at 1:38 am
This made me tear up a bit. We always need to remember how bad it has been and how much worse it can get. Loved this story.
December 11, 2020 at 2:16 am
Thank you so much. My dad used to say, “It could always be worse.”
December 11, 2020 at 11:51 pm
Great story that certainly puts things into perspective.
December 12, 2020 at 2:37 am
What a beautiful story Darlene. I have goosebumps from head to toe. Such a powerful reminder to us all that although these restrictions are challenging the yare nothing compared to what many have endured. Presenting it through the eyes and voice of the young girl give it an extra significance. Well done!
[…] Lockdown With Anne […]
December 18, 2020 at 9:21 am
The parallel of the two stories is perfect. It is beautiful! What a timely reminder that our lockdown is really just an inconvenience. Wonderful, Darlene.
Darlene Foster's Blog 
December 7, 2020 at 1:00 am
Many here are complaining about the restrictions that are in place for us during this pandemic when what Anne endured was unthinkable. Thank you for the reminder. Yes, this pandemic sucks but we will get through it.
December 7, 2020 at 1:06 am
It was the first thing that I thought of when the lockdown happened n March. That although it was restrictive, it was nothing compared to what Anne and others at that time went through.