# Fumiko ### The Story of a Little Girl, Growing Up ### WebbyMuse ### Chapter One - "Growing Up" Ever since she was eight,Fumiko has had a little problem, actually a big problem, in fact, two of them.
Fumiko at Six
It really started when she was about six. Like many young girls of her age, she was a little chubby, and a little overdeveloped for six. Her figure looked a little more like a twelve-year-old's. The school nurse checked her out and pronounced her fit and healthy if perhaps a tad too healthy. It was a time when girls started developing early. It might be something in the water, the air, who knows what. But, in this case it didn't seem to be doing any harm.
Fumiko at Eight in School
The real problems began when she was about eight. Some of her chubbiness had moved around and expressed itself in other rather nice places, much to her parents chagrin and the boys at school's delight. She would occasionally knock things off counters or tables in the kitchen when she turned suddenly. Fumiko was only normally clumsy for her age. Part of her, it seems, was just getting in the way. This, of course, prompted another visit to the school nurse. The nurse, Miss Mirei, after very carefully and admiringly examining her, sympathetically told her that there was nothing to be alarmed at. She said, "There are actually many girls your age in this school who are going through similar stages of development."
Miss Mirei - show and tell
Miss Mirei then checked to see that the doors were locked and took her own rather full blouse off. The two of them spent some time then comparing each others assets and talking about experiences growing up. "You're lucky," the nurse said, " you have developed early enough that your body has become accustomed to it. I'll give you some exercises to do that will strengthen your back and leg muscles. You're going to need them." Fumiko felt comforted by the nurse's kind words. She was also intrigued about the possibility that not only Miss Mirei shared her affliction, but that other girls, kindred spirits, as it were, had been all around her all of the time. It might be a good idea to seek them out and compare notes.
"Little" Lu - Fumiko's Sister
Of course there was baby sis, Little Lu, as everyone called her. She was starting to show signs. Of course she was still in the lower grades and had a lot of growing to do. But she was a very good friend and easy to confide in. Many times they would lock the doors and play dress-up in their mother's bedroom when she was at work. Lu would tease her about her "growth," but, it soon became apparent that "Little" Lu was getting there herself.
Fumiko dressing-up as a Playboy Bunny
It was while they were "role playing" that Fumiko realized that not only was it getting harder to find bras and clothes among their "things" that fit her, but even "Little" Lu was getting harder to fit. Fumiko, herself was starting to fill out the clothes, and especially the tops and bras that they "borrowed" from their Mother to play "dress-up." Mom had always taken their measurements, bought their clothes from some "mysterious" store that they had never seen. Fumiko made up her mind to ask her Mom about this the next chance that she got.
Lu dressing-up as a hooker
It was time, Fumiko also thought, that she and her "baby" sis were getting closer together. They would probably need each other very much in the coming years. Fumiko was also very close to her mom, there are, of course, things a little girl keeps to herself but Fumiko decided to share more of her problems with her mother.
Fumikos Mom!
One day, after telling her mom about her adventures with her nurse, the school, the other [censored] and her sis, her mother took her aside and removed her clothes. Now, Fumiko had seen her Mom in various stages of undress before. When she was very young it didn't mean very much. As she got older her mom started wearing very bulky clothes. Fumiko knew that her mom was big, but chalked it up to having had several [censored] and gaining weight. Fumiko's mom told her the story of when she was growing up, being ashamed, or afraid, or confused, how she dealt with it and the help and comfort of her friends, sister, and her Mom. "Your GrandMa," she told Fumiko, "was part Filipino, and grew up in the Islands after the war. Here, I think I've got a picture..."
Fumikos GrandMa!
She then went over to a drawer in the dresser, opened it and pulled out an old faded photograph. "This was taken when she was still a very young woman." Fumiko looked and saw a young girl, apparently on an island or in a tropical setting. She was naked from the waist up. But what was surprising was what was above the waist, or rather what was trying to stay above the waist. This girl had a chest that made Fumiko look like a Barbie doll. "This is GrandMa?" she asked. "I didn't know they had color pictures back in the 'old' days! God! she's big!" "Juanita, your GrandMaMa, grew up on a plantation after the war." Fumiko's Mom explained, "One of her cousins was a Japanese man who liked to take photographs. They didn't have the money or equipment to make the 'new' color pictures, so they would 'tint' black and white prints. He did a very good job. She went to work in the fields uncovered, as you see her, because it was very hard work, it was quite hot there. Also, anything she could possibly find that would even fit her was too binding, too restrictive to work in." "Where is she now?" Fumiko asked. Fumiko's Mom saw the worried look on her daughter's face and said, "Oh, she's fine. She met her, to be husband, your GrandPa, while she was working there. He was a young engineer for the farm bureau. He took one look at her and was smitten for life." "I'll bet!" Fumiko said, "just look at her!" Mom went on, "Yes, but she was also very smart. After they were married, the two of them started a business which got her out of the fields and eventually both of them to America. The business grew and eventually was handed down to your Father and I. The two of them are now retired and have been traveling for several years." "Is she still..." Fumiko began... "As big as this?" Mom cut in, "Yes, actually a bit bigger, and just as pretty. She may have a few wrinkles, but your GrandPa is very glad that he met and married her. And so am I, because I was born, and now I have you and your Sis." "So, it ran in the family," Fumiko mused... "Well... yes... I guess you could say that we have been producing very feminine girls in this family. But, it was still tough growing up. In this country, a lot of [censored] like to tease or bully. I would cover up very well when ever I went out. But it was hard to hide them. Plus, having a Mom like her... well... she was not quite so shy. A lot of [censored] would talk... you know. But, when I started to school in the higher grades, I had some help and encouragement, surprisingly enough, from the school nurse."
Nurse Chai - Mom's School Nurse
"Just as with your nurse, I had a friend in nurse Chai. She was very large in front and could easily sympathize with me. As in your case, she showed me that I was not alone in this, that other girls had been around with my "condition." She encouraged me to not even think about reduction and showed me things I could do to strengthen myself. I owe a lot to her. "Be glad that you have someone at school that is sympathetic with you. I knew I should have discussed these things with you earlier, but, I guess that there was hope that you would not have to deal with it. I can see now that both you and your sister are going to inherit my genes. From now on let us be more open with each other. I want both of you to be able to confide in me." They spent the rest of the afternoon joking about their experiences and playing dress-up. Lu came and knocked at the door and they let her in on their little party. Next Up... Chapter Two - "School and the 'Gang'."