Monday, September 20, 1976
I got off from work at 7:00 p.m. I dreaded going back to the house. I can’t consider it my home, especially since Bent makes it clear that I am not welcome there.
Tuesday, September 21, 1976 (Elisabeth’s 5th Birthday)
I am off work for the next few days because my doctor has asked that I go to the hospital to get tested for allergies. The hospital I have to go to is in Viborg. Mom took the train with me to show me where it was.
As soon as I was admitted to the hospital, the receptionist asked me a lot of questions. I must be getting used to the dialect here because I was able to understand what she was asking. Then I was brought to my room and the nurse told me to take a shower. Wow, a real shower! It felt so good, I felt like standing in the shower all day and just feeling the water pour down on me.
All the food they serve here is really good! I am extremely happy the doctor has asked me to come here to stay for a few days!
When the nurse came in to take my blood, I asked her if I could go into town. She told me as long as I was back in a couple of hours. It was fun going into town and having a look around.
Wednesday, September 22, 1976
The nurse woke me up at 6:00 a.m. After she took my temperature and pulse, she told me to take a shower. After living in Canada and only being allowed to take a bath once a week, it was strange to be told to take another shower. Especially since I had just had one yesterday.
Later in the day, I was given lots of different shots to see what I am allergic to. Then I was told I am allergic to cats, dogs, dust, grass, bee stings, and penicillin. I kind of already knew that from the test that had been done on me while we lived in Canada. It looked like not much had changed. Later in the day I went into town and bought some yarn to crochet with.
Thursday, September 23, 1976
The nurse woke me up again at 6:00 a.m. After she had taken my temperature and pulse, she told me to take a shower again. I felt guilty for taking another shower since I have always been told it cost a lot of money to run water. But the nurse told me to, so I did it. Wow, I don’t think I have ever been so clean!
Later in the day, they did more tests on me. This time I was told I am allergic to feathers. I knew that from the way I had reacted to the pillow and blanket I had slept with when I first got to Denmark. I got sick and mom was forced to go buy me a blanket and pillow that was non-allergenic because I didn’t have enough money to buy it myself.
I didn’t get a very good night’s sleep because the girl next to me talked in her sleep. I tried to wake her up, but it was of no use. I ended up lying there listing to her talk away while she slept. It’s still better being here than at the stinky old house.
Friday, September 24, 1976
The nurse told me to take another shower today. I wonder if I could ever get used to having a daily shower, without all the guilt that comes with it.
Later in the day, when the nurse came in to take my blood, I hid in the bathroom. I hate having my blood drawn! Besides, they have taken it every day since I arrived here. What more can they possibly test my blood for? But the nurse found me and asked me to come out so she could draw my blood yet again. Then the doctor came and talked to me, and told me they were done doing tests on me and I was to go home later today.
When I had eaten lunch, Mom came with Elisabeth to pick me up. As we were walking to the train station, Elisabeth tripped on the sidewalk. Mom started immediately to yell at me. She told me it was my fault that Elisabeth had tripped because I wasn’t holding her hand. (Mom could have held her hand just as well as I could have.) I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to start a fight.
When I got back and had read one of Nick’s letters, he wrote, “Your spelling is getting better.” I thought, “Ha, ha”. He is just getting used to the way I write. But I’ve got to admit that the letters I am getting are becoming easier and easier to read.
Saturday, September 25, 1976
I wish I could have stayed at the hospital for just one more day! Mom is having a Birthday party for Elisabeth. She is stressed out. As usual, she is taking it out on me. I can’t seem to move fast enough for her. The party was to start at 2:00 p.m. and some of the kids showed up at 1:15 p.m. I don’t know why she bothers to have kids over for a party. Especially since she doesn’t like children!
While everyone was here, I snuck upstairs into the dark and spooky attic so that Mom couldn’t find me. While I was there, I wrote Nick my daily letter. After I came down, Mom didn’t even notice that I had been gone. Later in the day the next-door neighbor came over and asked me if I could sleep over at their house. She needed someone to watch her kids because she would be gone for quite a while. Man, was I happy to have this opportunity to get away! Even if it’s just for one night.
Sunday, September 26, 1976
I woke up and had breakfast with the family I babysat for last night. They are such a nice family. I wish I could have stayed a lot longer. When I got back to the house and got the chores done, Elisabeth and I went down to the creek that is nearby. It’s so peaceful there. When we got back, Elisabeth’s friends came over and asked me to teach them to speak English. We went outside and I taught them how to count to ten.
Monday, September 27, 1976
Today I only had to work for the Thompsons for a few hours. When I came back to the house, Bent had gone back to Canada. No one knows when he will return. If you ask me, I think he has gone back to being a bachelor and he is perfectly content with Mom and Elisabeth staying here.
There is a pear tree just outside the house. I asked Mom if I could pick a pear off the tree and eat it. Since I was up in the tree, Mom asked me to get one for her too. As I was climbing the tree I thought, “Man! If Bent knew I was doing this, he would have a cow!” The best part of him being gone is that I don’t have to eat my dinner a certain way. It is so stressful trying to eat when he is here for fear of doing it wrong. While he was here, the food I could eat was limited, and I had to ask for everything I ate. Now that he is gone, Mom doesn’t seem to care what, when, or how much I eat.
Tuesday, September 28, 1976
While I was working for the Thompsons, both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson came home for lunch. I made the food for them. Mrs. Thompson says she wants to teach me how to cook all kinds of food. They are both so nice, and the thought of having to tell them that I will be leaving just makes me sick.
On the way back from work I picked up Elisabeth from daycare. Now that Bent is gone I wonder what mom does all day here at the house. It just doesn’t make sense to me why Elisabeth can’t come home after school.
Wednesday, September 29, 1976
When I got back from working for the Thompsons, Mom said there was a letter that had come asking me to start school unless I had proof that I was working. Mom told me that she had already gone to the school and talked to them about it.
Thursday, September 30, 1976
When I got to work today, Mrs. Thompson paid me 300 kroners. When I got off work and had come back to the house, one of Elisabeth’s’ friends named Tina came over. Since Elisabeth is not here, she asked me if I wanted to play. Together we went into the backyard and I picked both of us an apple to eat right off the tree! When we had eaten them, Tina and I went into town so that I could buy some brown paints that I have been wanting for a long time.
Mom has asked me to meet her at the laundry mat today so that I can help her carry the laundry home. Now that Bent has gone back to Canada, she is bringing the laundry to the laundry mat to wash it. Man, would Bent be upset if he knew this!
Friday, October 1, 1976
Today while I was working for the Thompsons, Mrs. Thompson asked me to have dinner with them and then spend the night at their house. I can’t get over how kind the Thompsons are. The thought of telling them I am leaving just aches my heart!
Saturday, October 2, 1976
I ate breakfast with the Thompsons this morning. When I was all done with the chores, Mrs. Thompson said I could go home.
When I got back to the house, I picked some more apples right off the tree because Mrs. Thompson has shown me how to make apple cake. Both Mom and Elisabeth loved it, so we had eaten it in no time.
Sunday, October 3, 1976
I kept looking for the mailman, but then I remembered it was Sunday. Then I picked some apples right off the tree and made applesauce.
Monday, October 4, 1976
Before I left for work this morning, Mom asked me if I wanted her to knit me a shirt. I was shocked by her question because Mom only knits things for Elisabeth. When I got back from work, Mom had started on the sweater that she wants to make for me. I wonder why all of a sudden she is being nice to me. Maybe she hopes that I will change my mind and not go back to Canada.
Tuesday, October 5, 1976
When I got back to the house Mom had almost finished the whole sweater. It is made out of really thick yarn so it isn’t taking her long to make it. It’s not something I would have picked out, but I wasn’t about to tell Mom that.
Mom asked me if we should try to find my old friend Marbrit. I have not seen Marbrit since we left Denmark five years ago. Mom found Marbrit’s phone number in no time. It was so strange to talk to her again, but we didn’t talk for long because there was a lot of static on the phone. I did manage to tell her that I was back in Denmark again. When I had talked to her, I wanted to ask Mom if we could find my dad and call him too, but I knew it would only make her angry, so I didn’t. Besides I don’t want to make waves now that mom is being nice to me.
Wednesday, October 6, 1976
I have the day off from work today. When it was time for Elisabeth to get off from school, I asked Mom if I could pick her up. I told mom since I had the day off I wouldn’t mind watching her. Elisabeth was glad when she found out that she didn’t have to go to daycare today.
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