<Begin Segment 5>

LH: So what was it like growing up in a family of nine at this time? How did the, you know...

FF: Well I liked it. I got a lot of attention. I mean, I think of all the children, I think when the parents are doing well I think there's a tendency to feel that everybody supports you, although I wasn't the most likable child because the rest of the, rest of the family felt I was real spoiled, but I didn't care. I knew I was real well-loved because Dad and Mom... I knew that they loved me and no matter what the brothers and sister would say, like, you know, "You were a mistake," and stuff. I felt hey, that's okay, I know Dad and Mom still loves me. And I think it could have been devastating if, if you let it take to you. And, but I think the security of it all, I felt pretty good that Mom and Dad really did love me. I was a, took pictures with Mom at the photography shop because she needed a prop to stand next to her and I was happy about that. Dad didn't like to take pictures. But, and Dad likes to take me to the movies. So I was real taken care of.

LH: So did your brothers and sisters help out in sort of raising you while your mother was...

FF: Well, I can... actually, I didn't have too many peers my age group. I used to look up to the older people; my brothers and sisters were good -- well, my brothers especially -- were good in athletics. And I used to follow the teams wherever I could walk to, or take a bus to, or rather, trolley to. And that part of it I really enjoyed where they were my idols, and I got to develop this inner interest that got me into athletics. And without them, I don't think I would have progressed as I did, and got interested in hoping to coach and teach and whatever.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.