Act 1: Scene 5 Monday, December 7 1942

Peter Van Daan

If I were to pick the most bizarre day of my life, it would be today. It was Hanukkah. Everyone was saying prayers as we sat around the menorah. Of course since we were in hiding, there were no presents, or at least that’s what we thought. Suddenly, Anne rushes in and brings everybody presents. It was really unexpected. Who’d think that we’d get gifts while we were in hiding? They weren’t brand new toys or a new bike or anything like that, but it’s the thought that counts. Anne got me a used safety razor. She said that I’d need it. She even made Mouschi a gift. She crumbled a piece of paper and tied it to a string. I think it was pretty creative. I brought it into my room to show Mouschi the present.

A few minutes after that, things began to go downhill. There was a sudden noise on the floor below us. We had no idea who it was. It could’ve been from a worker getting some papers to a burglar. Mr. Frank volunteered to go down and see who it was. When he came back up he told us that it was a thief that took a cash box. After that, we were all worried that he might spread the news that there were Jews living up here. When everyone was tense and quiet, I saw Mouschi and went forward to pick him up. It was then when I fell and made a huge bang. A minute later, the green police came. We knew they were coming, so we hid behind the bookcase. As the green police searched the room, Mouschi was above us creating a whole bunch of noise. At first I thought Mouschi was going to give us away, but after they realized it was just a cat, they tried to call Mouschi by making cat noises. After that, they left. We were in the clear, for now. As soon as everyone was able to take a nice deep breath, my father says Mouschi had to go. I was stunned. He said that I was feeding it more food then any of use had. He even accused me of stealing our supply of food for him. I love Mouschi, but I wouldn’t let him eat all the food we have to survive on. He only eats scraps. I can’t believe that my father would even think of getting rid of Mouschi.

Act 1: Scene 4 Several Months Later

Peter Van Daan

Today, something weird happened. While I was struggling to fall asleep, I heard somebody shouting at the top of their lungs. It was Anne. I was afraid if she’d blow our cover or not. I decided to take a look. When I got to her doorway, Mrs. Frank was already there trying to tell her everything’s alright. I just stood there watching. After about thirty seconds, I realized that there wasn’t any point of me being there and decided to go back to bed. As Mouschi was waiting for me, I heard Anne talking to her father. She said something about hating her mother. I never knew Anne’s battles with her mother went that deep. Sure, my mother is the most embarrassing one of her kind in this world, but I don’t hate her. I put my head down and went to sleep.

Act 1: Scene 3 September 1942

Peter Van Daan

How did I get stuck here? If I have to spend one more minute in this place, I think I’m just going to turn myself in to the Nazis. Nothing I do in my father’s eyes is right. My mom keeps teasing me on how much I like Anne, which I don’t! Speaking of Anne, remember how I said how much energy Anne has when I first got here? Well, she still has it. And now she’s annoying me twice as much, stealing my shoes, tripping me, and always asking to see Mouschi. Mouschi is still the only one I can relate to. Unfortunately, whenever my father catches me spending time with Mouschi instead of studying, he gets furious at me, so I can’t see Mouschi as much. Only if my father understood.

Act 1: Scene 2- Act 1: Scene 3 July 1942- September 1942

Peter Van Daan

I hate it here. Nobody seems to understand me. All it is around here is study (which am not even good at), eat beans, have Anne run around everywhere, doing everything that she possibly can to annoy me, while my father is yelling at just about everything I do. Whenever I have the chance, I always try to go and see Mouschi. At least Mouschi understands me.

Act 1: Scene 2 July 1942

Peter Van Daan

I can’t believe I have to go into hiding. It’s not like my life was bad enough already. I have to admit, I am a little afraid of the Nazis, so this isn’t all that bad. A man named Mr. Frank asked us if we would like to go into hiding with them, saying something about that he owed it to my father or something. We agreed and I ended up going into hiding with my father Mr. Van Daan, my mother Mrs. Van Daan, Mr. Frank, his wife Mrs. Frank, and their daughters Anne and Margot. Also, one of the people who’s helping us hide is Miep, who gives us just about everything that we’d need like food. Margot seems to be a quiet girl, but Anne, on the other hand, is so full of energy. She’s always happy, running around, not even caring about the fact that she’s in hiding trying to avoid the Nazi’s for her life. Even when I wasn’t stuck in this place, I never remember a time when I was that happy. Yet there’s something about that girl that I just can’t describe.
Anyway, my only true friend is my cat Mouschi. When we were leaving to go into hiding, I just couldn’t leave Mouschi behind, so I found a way to bring him along. Mouschi isn’t much of a people person, which I can relate to. I always take care of him. I feel special when I’m around Mouschi. Some people say he's just a cat, but to me, Mouschi is a friend. A friend I can talk to and who will listen to me.

Act 1: Scene 1 November 1945

Peter Van Daan

I can’t believe this. Just about everyone I cared for is dead, including me. The only ones left are Mr. Frank and Miep. I feel terrible for Mr. Frank. Everyone he loved is dead. His daughters Anne and Margot have both died. Even his wife Mrs. Frank has died. It must be sad for him wanting to move out of his home, trying to forget all of those painful memories. I also can’t believe how much Miep has changed. She’s now married and she’s even pregnant! That’s a big difference. I also respect how she’s trying to make Mr. Frank stay. It would be hard to see Mr. Frank have to leave his home. Now, thanks to Miep, Mr. Frank has his daughter’s diary. His eyes were wide open and his mind full of happiness and hope. He opened the book and began to read.