Note: I am Swedish and English is not my native language, therefore it may occure some faults.
12th of August 1881
Dear diary!
What a day this has been! Nels has been in a really bad mood the whole day. It all started with him catching Willie eating candy out of one of the jars in the mercantile. I am sure that Nels would have killed Willie if I had not gotten there in time. I really do not understand why Nels got so angry? For heaven sake, Willie is just a child! He is a growing boy and he was just having a little after school snack. Can you blame him for that? Apparently my husband can. He spoke to Willie in such a manner that he have never spoken to him before. He called him a "terrible thing to have for a son". Are a father really allowed to say such awful things about his own child? I tried to come to my Willie's defense but Nels would not listen, instead we got into an argument and he told me that I bore him. Well Nels Oleson, you bore me too! To make things worse, that know-it-all Charles Ingalls, walked in just as Willie fled for his life. Do you know what my husband said?
"I apologize for my son."
He did not have to apologize for Willie! He did not do anything wrong! But of course, Nels is always trying to suck up to Charles. As I left the store I could hear Charles telling Nels that he had forgotten his wedding anniversary. Ha! Isn't that a typical farmer for you? So stupid and slow that they even can't remember what day they got married on. I am sure that Nels would never forget our wedding anniversary, he never has so far. He always gives me flowers or some fancy French perfume. One year he even got me a pair of diamond earrings. Well, enough about that. Nels had another fit later in the evening. He was preparing dinner (a tongue that would have been delicious if it had not burned) when Nellie came in to the kitchen and told us that a family of eight just came in to her restaurant and that they were starving. Nels, who usually loves to cook – both at home and at the restaurant – started arguing and telling me that a woman's place was in the kitchen. My place is absolutely not in the kitchen! Why would I spend my days cooking and sewing when I have such a brilliant business sense? No! I am not a woman, I am a merchant! We were of course able to convince Nels to go over to Nellie's and cook and he left me with the responsibility to look after the tongue. That was easier said and done. All of a sudden the tongue caught fire! It was not my fault, I swear! I mean, I did not know that that would happen if you did not take it out exactly at the right time. Nels should have told me that! It is all his fault! Well… I went over to fetch Nels so he could help me to put the fire out. Oh god, I don't believe I have ever seen him so angry! When he took the tongue out he started swearing, calling us fools and he throw his apron on the floor and yelled that he was going to get out of the house and out of Walnut Grove as soon as he possibly could. Should I be worried? At first I was, but not anymore. He would never leave us! How would he get along without us? No, I am sure that there is no reason for me to worry. He is still rather upset and he refuses to sleep in our bedroom. Well… I am sure that he will change his mind in an hour or so and join me in bed. After all, he has never been able to resist my charm. Now it is time for me to put the light out and go to sleep.
