<Begin Segment 8>

EG: Nothing special happened to you at Puyallup?

PT: No. I don't remember anything special.

EG: I recall before, when we talked, that you told me a story of having a birthday at that time.

PT: Oh, yes. One month after we went to Puyallup, I celebrated my 10th birthday. And so, our camp was located in a parking lot. And beyond the barbed wire, we noticed a little mom and pop grocery store on the corner. And there would be an armed guard walking back and forth outside the barbed wire fence. And my mother gave him some money, and asked him if he would kindly run across the street to the mom and pop grocery store, and pick up any kind of pastry. Which he did. That again was an act of kindness.

EG: An active military guard...

PT: Yes.

EG: ...running errands for a Japanese family.

PT: Yes, right.

EG: Wonderful. Wonderful.

PT: But anyway, we sat across this apple crate table, and she opened up this package of cinnamon rolls for me, and she said, "Ayako, this is your birthday cake this year." and she wished me a happy birthday.

EG: So there was a special day in Puyallup.

PT: Yes. Yes, it was special.

EG: Wonderful.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.