Tuesday, August 17, 1976
The medicine is helping me, and I can tell my fever finally went down. I got up and started doing chores so Mom wouldn’t get upset.
While Mom walked Elisabeth to school, I hurried and wrote a letter to Nick telling him what had happened, and that I could leave as soon as I got the plane ticket.
When Mom came back from town, she had two bikes with her. Mom proudly said the blue motorcycle was hers and the red one was for me. I was happy to see that I had my very own bike and no longer had to walk everywhere. This would also make it a lot easier to bring the groceries home from town. I jumped on my bike and went to the post office to mail the letter I had just written to Nick.
When I got back from the post office, Mom said she had changed her mind about me leaving. I told her I had already written to Nick. Then mom angrily said, “You don’t think I would buy you a bike if I knew you were leaving?” Then she added, “Aren’t you grateful for the bike?” I told her I was very grateful, but I had never asked for one, and that she couldn’t go back on her word. Mom very sternly said, “Be grateful! And let’s forget the whole thing!” I was frustrated. First, she had built up my hopes, and now she was going back on her word.
Wednesday, August 18, 1976
I was not giving up hope about leaving this place. After I had my so-called bath, I got out the clothes I was going to wear when I fly back to Canada. I ironed them and hung them up on a coat hanger so they could be all ready to wear. Since I don’t have a place to put my things, I carefully hung them up in the hall coat closet.
When I lived in Canada, Bent said that if I ever bought a plane ticket, he could get me a good deal. I wrote Nick a letter telling him to contact Bent so he could tell him how to get my ticket cheaper.
Thursday, August 19, 1976
A man came to the door. He handed me a telegram from Canada. It was from Bent saying he would be here on Saturday. He wanted Mom to call Lilly and Agner to ask if they could come to the airport to pick him up.
Instantly, Mom was in a good mood. She started talking about when Bent got here, he was going to install a toilet, pipes for hot running water, a washing machine, and a place where we could take a bath.
Friday, August 20, 1976
Mom went into town to call Lilly and tell her about the telegram. Lilly said that she and Agner were able to pick Bent up at the airport.
Saturday, August 21, 1976
Elisabeth and Mom were excited to see Bent again. When he got here, I asked him if he could help Nick get my plane ticket for cheap. Bent seemed overjoyed to find out I was leaving. Then he said, “I never told you I could get a deal on a ticket. Nick will have to pay full price!” I was disappointed because Bent had lied to me, and then he tried to make me think I was making it up.
Sunday, August 22, 1976
It had been a miserable night sleeping with Elisabeth. There isn’t enough room for both of us on the couch. I don’t think I can ever get used to sleeping this way. Not only that, but there is a stupid clock hanging on the wall where we sleep, and it says tick-tick really loud! Every half hour, it gives a gong sound, and on the whole hour, it gongs as many times says as the clock says it it. I am not allowed to turn it off. It doesn’t seem to bother Elisabeth because she is a sound sleeper. I don’t know how they expect me to sleep like this.
When Elisabeth woke up this morning, she had six small boils on her body. By nighttime, she had a low fever and twice as many boils. Bent said his dad used to get boils all the time and that it was no big deal. Mom just needed to keep the boils clean, and they would go away.
Monday, August 23, 1976
When we woke up, Elisabeth had even more boils all over her body. Her fever was very high. Bent borrowed Agner’s car and took Elisabeth to the doctor. Mom went with them. I stayed at the house with Lilly and Agner.
While we were waiting for Mom, Bent, and Elisabeth to come back, Lilly said to me, “Let’s walk into town. I will buy you a crochet hook, and some yarn, and I will teach you how to crochet!” I thanked Lilly for the offer, then I assured her that I was much too dumb to learn such fine art. Lilly told me that was not true. She said, “Come on, let’s go.”
When we got into town, Lilly got the crochet hook and asked me to pick out what ever color of yarn I wanted. As I was about to pick out a color, I started getting sick to my stomach. I turned to Lilly and told her she would be wasting her money because I could never learn. Lilly wouldn’t hear of it and insisted I pick out a color.
As we walked back to the house, I was scared to let Lilly down. I kept telling her that I couldn’t learn. Lilly answered, “Let’s get home, and then I will be the judge of that!” When we got back to the house, Lilly was very patient with me as she showed me how to crochet a beautiful square. It was not all as hard as I had feared. I was amazed that I was able to do it. It made me feel good about myself. Then Lilly had me make another square and showed me how to crochet the two squares together. I was excited about this new talent.
It was getting late, and Mom, Bent, and Elisabeth were still not back from the doctor. I was worried about what was happening to Elisabeth. By now, I had made lots of squares and hooked them together. It was turning into a tablecloth.
When Mom and Bent finally came back, they did not have Elisabeth with them. By now, it was late in the evening and time for bed. Mom told us the doctor had asked them to take Elisabeth to the hospital because she was in critical condition. The doctor called ahead to let the hospital know they were on their way. When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor there said they were not equipped to care for Elisabeth. They had an ambulance take them to a hospital in another town, called Viborg.
In this hospital, the doctor had asked Mom why they had not brought Elisabeth to the doctor before the boils got this bad. The doctor also told them that he had read about boils like this. People in the old days died from them. He didn’t think they still existed in this day and age. It was a form of boils that spread fast and was highly contagious. To keep the boils from spreading, Elisabeth had to be in a room where she was not only in intensive care but also isolated from everyone else. Then mom said to us, “How was I to know that!”
When I went to bed, I worried about Elisabeth and wondered how she was doing in the hospital and if she would survive. I wished I could be with her so she wasn’t all alone.
Tuesday, August 24, 1976
I woke up at 8:00 a.m. I was still tired, but it was impossible to sleep in, since everyone was eating breakfast right by where I slept. I overheard Mom say to Bent, “Anne-Mette got sick from sleeping on that sofa. Now that Elisabeth is sleeping there, she has gotten sick too. Do you think it has anything to do with the couch?” Bent got irritated and said, “No, I am sure that has nothing to do with it!”
Later in the day, Jonny, the next-door neighbor, told Mom that Mr. Ramsdahl used to have a lot of boils, and he would always sit on the couch while his wife would clean out the wounds. Jonnny was sure the sofa was contagious.
When Jonny left, Mom told Bent what the neighbor had said to her. Mom asked Bent if they could take the couch in the backyard and burn it. Bent got mad and said the couch was as good as when it was bought. The sofa had been good enough for his parents, and therefore it was good enough for us, and that was to be the end of the discussion!
After I finished the chores, I crocheted some more squares for my tablecloth. I sat by the window so that I would be sure to see the mailman when he came walking down the street. When I saw him, I ran towards him. He said, “Don’t you ever get tired of looking for me every day?” Then he laughed and added, “I wish everyone was as excited about seeing me as you are!” He handed me two letters from Nick because he knows that is why I run to see him. I ran back to the house to read the letters. With everyone here, there is nowhere to have privacy. I took my letters and went and hid in the backyard among all the weeds. There I can read my letters in peace.
Later in the day, Lilly, Agner, Mom, Bent, and I went to Viborg to visit Elisabeth. When we got there, we were told that only Mom and Bent could see Elisabeth because she was in isolation and they didn’t want to risk spreading the boils.
Lilly, Agner, and I went to sit on the lawn. While we were waiting for Mom and Bent to come back, I wrote my daily letter to Nick, letting him know what was happening here. When mom and Bent were done visiting with Elisabeth, they told us they had to wear a paper suit that covered their heads and their whole bodies so they wouldn’t get the boils. When they had taken off the suit, it was thrown in the trash, and they were asked to wash up thoroughly before they left.
When we got back from the hospital, I wanted to work on the tablecloth I am making, but I am all out of yarn. I had also run out of money, but Nick had sent me a few dollars. Now I have money to buy some more stamps and yarn. Lilly is happy that I am taking such a liking to Crocheting. Just before I left, she also told me to buy some red yarn so she could teach me how to crochet hearts. I am so grateful that she had faith in me to learn this craft, especially since I didn’t have any in myself.
When I got outside, I saw Elisabeth’s friend Bettina riding her bike. She is 10 years old and such a sweet girl. I asked her if she wanted to ride her bike with me into town so that I wouldn’t have to go alone. She said, ” Sure.” When I got into town, I had not brought enough money. Bettina and I came back so that I could get more of my money. Now that I have a bike, it is not so bad going back and forth to town.
When I got back, Lilly showed me how to make a heart. It was so much fun. Mom is bothered by the kindness Lilly is showing me. But I can’t worry about it. I am just glad Lilly is willing to teach me.
Later in the day, after dinner, Lilly, Agner, Mom, and Bent went to see Mr. Ramsdahl at the hospital. Bent said I had to stay here. I told him I was scared to be alone in the house, but he didn’t care. He said there wasn’t enough room for me in the car. Agner’s car seats five people, and that’s how many we are. But I knew his mind was made up, and it was no use talking to him anymore about it.
A while ago, the T.V. and the radio were taken to the nursing home for Mr. Ramsdahl. I didn’t have anything I could turn on to drown out the freaky sounds this old house makes. After they had left, I tried not to think about how scared I was. I kept myself busy with crocheting. But no matter how hard I tried, I could hear every sound this old house was making, including the whistling of the sound coming through the windows.
Wednesday, August 25, 1976
When Bent came back from town, he had bought a phone. Later in the day, a man came to hook it up. I guess now that Bent is here, it’s okay to have a phone in the house.
The mailman was late today. I had run up the street to look for him several times. When he finally got here, he smiled and said, “I knew you would be looking for me. Sorry, I got held up.” Then he apologized because he only had two letters for mom.
When I got back to the house, I handed Mom the letters. Mom looked at me and said, “If you are sure about going to Canada, then I want Nick to sign a letter that I have written, saying that if you break up, he will pay for the ticket for you to come back to Denmark.” I told Mom that I was sure he wouldn’t mind signing a paper like that.
Later in the day, when I was writing my daily letter, I asked Mom if she would mind writing the letter she wanted Nick to sign so I could mail it along with this letter. Mom answered, “No! Not until Bent goes back to Canada and has sold the house there, and then is back here in Denmark again.” I knew Bent would never sell his house in Canada, and I knew Mom knew it. I figured this means that Mom would never allow me to leave.
Before Mom and Bent went to the hospital to visit Elisabeth, Mom ordered me to get the chores done. While we have been living here, Mom always makes sure to leave the dishes and all the other chores for me to do. I don’t mind doing them. It’s just the way she orders me to do them that I don’t like. I don’t know why she can’t ask me nicely or say thank you when I am done.
Later in the evening, Mom, Bent, Lilly, and Agner went to visit Mr. Ramsdahl in the hospital. Ugh! I hate being left here in this freaky house!
I wanted to go to bed since there is nothing better to do, but I can’t. Since I sleep in the living room, I have to wait till everyone has come back and gone to bed first. When they got home, it was late before they went to bed because they had to have their evening coffee. I wish I had my own room, I wish I didn’t have to be here, I wish I could throw a pillow at that stupid ticking clock. I wish Elisabeth was not in the hospital. I was sad I could not see her. I hate it here! I have no one to vent to but paper. I cried myself to sleep.
Thursday, August 26, 1976
In the letter I got from Nick today, he wrote that he had bought the plane ticket. All he needed to know was the date to book the plane ticket. I wrote him back that I didn’t know, since Mom would not give me a date.
Later in the day, I went to pull weeds. I have about a quarter of it done. But there is so much land here, and the weeds are coming back faster than I can pull them. I realized it would take a machine to clear all this land. I gave up on the garden and sat down. Besides, Mom has gone back on her word and wasn’t going to pay for half the ticket anyway.
Friday, August 27, 1976
In the letter I got today from Nick, it said that he and his dad were in the middle of building me a room in their basement. They are working hard on it so that it will be ready for me when I come. Wow, my very own room. It sounded so exciting!
Mom seemed bothered that Nick had come up with the money for the plane ticket. She didn’t think he could do it. Mom still won’t tell me when I can leave. I know she wants me to stay here so that I can do all the chores that need to get done, but I also know that Bent doesn’t want me here. I think it’s just a matter of time before I find out when I can leave.
After dinner, everyone went to the Hospital to see Mr. Ramsdahl. After I had done the dishes, I sat down to write my daily letter to Nick. I wanted to keep busy writing to take my mind off all the noise, but there is only so much I can write about. Oh, I hate this house!
Saturday, August 28, 1976
Lilly and Agner went back to Sweden this morning.
I still have a little bit of money left, so I went into town with Elisabeth’s friend Bettina to see if I could find something to bring back to Nick’s parents as a present. Since I don’t have much money, it had to be something nice but cheap. It took me forever, but I finally found something.
When I got back from town, the hospital called to tell Bent to come right away because his dad was about to die. Mom and Bent hurried to the hospital. This time, I didn’t mind being left alone because it was light outside. I had all the chores caught up, so I was sitting there bored with nothing to do. Just then, the phone rang. It was a man who asked if I was Mette. I answered, “No, she is at the hospital. This is Anne-Mette.” The man then said, “Anne-Mette! This is Ole!” It was my uncle Ole who lived in Copenhagen. I have not seen him or his family since we left Copenhagen five years ago. My heart started to pound with excitement! After I had talked to him, I got to speak to my cousin Linda. It was so nice to hear her voice again!
I also got to talk to his wife, my Aunt Jytte. I couldn’t speak to my cousin Peter because he had gone to a friend’s house to play. As I was in the middle of talking to them, Mom and Bent came back. Mom wanted to know who I was talking to, so I told her. She grabbed the phone from my hands and started to talk. I stepped back. I could hear Mom telling them that Bent’s dad had just passed away. I looked over at Bent, and he didn’t look good. When mom was done talking, Bent called Lilly to tell her that their dad had passed away.
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