Do 01.12.1932, Brief von Anneliese an Walter: “Many people have this kind of flu now”

“Burleigh”, 1. Dezember 1932.

Mein lieber Junge,

I expect that you have been waiting several days for this letter. I am very sorry but I think it is quite the same if I have to wait a long time for your answers. This time I am really innocent because when I returned from my trip to that old, quaint town Salisbury Ena was not feeling very well and she became seriously ill the next day and her temperature was as high as possible in the evening so that we were rather worried.

Many people have this kind of flu now and it’s good that this illness goes just as quickly as it comes. So it happened that Ena was feeling perfectly allright on Wednesday afternoon and able to have tea together with me. Of course I have been having some very busy days. perhaps you can imagine what it means to run a household without a maid and to have a little boy and a patient to look after. But never mind they were ever so nice to me and therefore I did not mind working very hard and being very tired. Only there was no time left for writing etc. And I am feeling perfectly well now. I have been at the pictures to see “This is the Night“. It was a very nice show. Mr. Cox took me on reward for my services.

I am afraid the German girl won’t stay here any longer. She was not happy at her family and I think she is leaving there Saturday without having found another home. Poor girl!

Yes, my dear boy, I think more than half of the time I am away from you has gone and I am often thinking how nice it will be when we meet again and that we will look at each other to find out whether we are the same or not. Well, I hope: yes. Oh, it will be nice, don’t you think so. I do not believe that Mr. + Mrs. Cox are coming with me to Germany. If not, I shall probably come back at the end of February so that my English friend Betty – I was staying with her in Scalby – will be able to come to see me at Schwelm – she is crying now because she thinks she can’t come.

I do not like at all the way you write to me about learning how to drive a car – I like to be told more in a friendly and human way, I hate that scientific and short way and I am not even clever enough to understand all the strange words. I am not cross with you about it but still – it does not make me very happy. And I think we better leave the discussion about it till I am back in Germany because it’s not fair to talk much about it now because it is more difficult for me as I have to write in English.

But let me tell you just the one thing: I was brought up and always told in the following way: You are just as clever as other people and you can do whatever they are able to do. I think and I know that you talked about the motor-car affair with my parents – and I think we’ll leave it now, won’t we?

How did you like your day in Schwelm? I thought I would feel very homesick that day but I was so very busy that there was really very few time left to think – perhaps it was good.

I was very pleased to hear about your work and your Silentium and I hope you’ll always tell me about everything which is interesting.

How are your mother, sister and brother? Will you please give my kindest regards to them. – And how do you like my little boy?

Much love and kisses and the very best to you!

Yours Anneliese.