If you were to ask someone who knew her, they would likely all tell you that Ayumi Goodbody did not typify the typical Asian girl.
To begin with, there was the matter of her name. It wasn't made up or Americanized from a Korean or Chinese surname. Her father had been a Korean orphan adopted by the Goodbody family. He had 5 other siblings from varying nationalities and several other foster siblings. Despite their religious upbringing, Ayumi's grandparents were loving and giving people who practiced tolerance and believed in generosity.
Next was a glaringly obvious difference between Ayumi and many other Asian girls, to which we are referring to her body. Most of the Asian girls that Ayumi knew were on the petite side. Ayumi stood 5'8" in bare feet, although left to her own devices, she preferred the highest stiletto heels imaginable. Heels made her legs look incredible and one of the things Ayumi liked the most about herself was her long, sleek legs.
Ayumi was also possessed of what one former boyfriend had called a "truly remarkable" set of tits. She had never gone under the knife, but her natural breasts were a well-rounded 36-C. She thought behind her legs, they were her best asset.
Nor was Ayumi averse to flaunting her assets. In addition to several pairs of heels, her wardrobe consisted of many almost-indecent mini skirts and very tight "booty" shorts. The young woman also owned an ass that was well worth flaunting and, when feeling in the right mood, underwear was not there to impede the view. Even at times where underwear was a necessity, Ayumi wore the laciest and scantiest lingerie she could get away with.
She was glad that her family were free-thinkers, because she would have chafed under any restrictions. Ayumi was a blithe spirit, given to capricious whims anyone living in a traditional Asian household would have shuddered at the mere thought of. Her Korean dad and Japanese mom had themselves defied tradition and thus, never sought to make their daughters bow under outmoded, autocratic ideologies.
Yes, daughters. Ayumi was herself a twin, rare in her culture and she also had a 1-year younger sister as well. Ayumi and her sisters had been thick as thieves in their younger days, although time and career choices had separated them for a time.
Her twin had gone into the theater as a director and sometime actress. While both sisters were possessed of Mensa-level IQ's, there was a sense of whimsy that followed both sisters. Ayumi had always loved music and dancing and had decided that was where she wanted to pursue her dream. Dancers were vagabonds with open minds and Ayumi fit right in with that world. Dancing also gave her a chance to flaunt her body and the exhibitionist in her loved it. She might well have become a stripper, but sensed that might be where her parents and the rest of her family drew the line.
Dancing made Ayumi come alive and she made a lot of friends in the community. It also gave her a shared passion with her twin, as both sisters loved the arts. Ayumi often got the lead or at the very least, a large supporting role in many productions.
Ayumi wouldn't have admitted it, but she also enjoyed the often-skimpy costumes she wore in some of the more risque shows. Many in her company commented that she was one of the few performers they knew who could dance comfortably in high heels. Ayumi thanked them for noticing and kept to herself that she had been walking in heels for several years now.
Ayumi was a very happy girl with an active social life. As she was unconventional, a lot of the men who asked her out figured that she was likely up for anything. Ayumi did nothing to disabuse them of this notion, keeping some of her secrets just that - secrets. What Ayumi did in the bedroom, and she was certainly sexually voracious, was no one's business but hers and her partner at the time. Let us just say that whosoever shared Ayumi's bed left it a very happy camper.
Ayumi was ecstatic, living the life she loved and having as much fun as she could possibly have after her performances concluded. It all seemed to good, too idyllic, to be true.
The world came crashing down around the joyous young dancer after a particularly impassioned performance. One slight misstep and Ayumi's world was changed irrevocably. That she made it through the ordeal and thrived said a lot about her as a person.
Ayumi tore her hamstring and her doctor told her it was a bad tear. Bad enough that she would require physiotherapy for quite some time. Nasty enough that it would keep her from dancing for a year and perhaps even longer. To her credit, Ayumi took it all in stride. She didn't cry until she went back to her apartment and then the tears came in torrents.
It wasn't in Ayumi's personality to wallow in self pity or to ask for anyone's help. She was determined to muddle through and to figure things out for herself. She knew her parents would let her move back home and would be thrilled to have her. That was o-u-t as she valued her independence far too much and her sex life equally. She didn't need the scrutiny.
Her sister would gladly allow her to move in or offer to move in with Ayumi and split the rent. NOT gonna happen, Ayumi decided. Her sis had her own life and neither of them needed to butt heads over things, including just who was bringing someone home on a given evening.
One of the other dancers, with whom Ayumi maintained a "frenemy" status, proved to be her saving grace. She knew that Ayumi needed money and wouldn't accept anyone's help or a loan, so she offered neither. Instead, she offered Ayumi a solution that would put at end to her problems, at least for the time being.
"You need to get a job and I can get you one," Manda put it to Ayumi in a matter-of-fact manner. "I work at the
Hooters
on Adelaide and they're always hiring cute girls as servers. You're exotic and nicely put together, so it's a cinch you'd get the job. You can make really good money if you work full time and with you being out of commission, you could work as much as you wanted."
Ayumi made a sour face. "Don't you have to wear those skimpy tops and orange shorts?" She responded to Manda. "You're flaunting yourself, aren't you?"
Manda thought that Ayumi needed to be taken down a peg, so she did so. "In a way, yes, but what does it matter? You still have to give good service and be friendly to the customers. The product at our restaurants is good and the prices are reasonable. So what if we show off our bodies a bit? How is that any different than our dancing? You forget who you're talking to, kiddo. Some of the dance costumes we've worn have been a lot skimpier than my Hooters uniform. I make good money and that's what matters to me. So, what do you say? Are you in? Should I try to get you an interview?"
Ayumi realized that Manda was only trying to do her a good turn and her rebuttal had been solid. She gave the blonde a hug and accepted her offer. Perhaps things would work out for her, at least she'd be earning enough to stay in her apartment.
With her engaging personality and confident attitude, Ayumi got the job and started a week later. The other girls were very welcoming and there wasn't a catty female among them. Everyone was helpful and Ayumi found the work easy enough and she earned good money in tips. To her surprise, she found herself liking the work and the company. Working at the chain also added to her social life, as she was able to pick and choose which customers she would "fraternize" with outside of work. Her sex drive had not dwindled since her accident and she still wasn't shy about bopping about whenever she felt the urge. While she wasn't up yet to dancing on stage, shaking a tail feather every so often lifted her spirits and quite often, increased her tips.
It wasn't just the men who came to Hooters, there were lots of women and Ayumi made friends easily. Some women, just as some of the men did, flirted outrageously. There was never any pressure on the girls to socialize outside of work with customers. Ayumi made some new friends of both sexes, some of the men she slept with and some, she didn't. Ayumi still had voracious sexual appetites and liked to experiment with her lovers. Yet she didn't want to get a reputation as a slut and she was attractive enough to pick and choose those who had something to offer her in the boudoir. She swiftly became one of the most popular servers in the restaurant and earned herself the nickname "Yummy" which she wore like a badge of honor.
One of Ayumi's favorite customers was a saucy little redhead named Heather Kennedy. She had some similar qualities to Ayumi in that she knew she was sexy and wasn't afraid to show it. Heather worked as an executive secretary so she had to dress with a bit more modesty than Ayumi did, although on her days off, she favored tight and short skirts and heels almost as high as the ones Ayumi liked. Heather was well known to everyone at Ayumi's work and they all liked her, staff and the regulars alike. The difference between Heather and Ayumi, aside from the physical component was that Heather was married and she only went so far as to flirt. She adored her husband and they had been together since Heather was sixteen.
When Heather came in one Wednesday afternoon and ordered a drink - then another and one to follow that - Ayumi sensed something wasn't right. She asked Danielle, who was Heather's server, if she could take over that table. Her friend knew that Heather and Ayumi were friends, so it wasn't a problem. Ayumi approached the sexy redhead and saw her eyes were red and not from too much alcohol. It was obvious that she had been crying.
Ayumi saw no point in beating around the bush. She had known Heather for six months at that point and knew her friend would appreciate her candor. "So, are you going to tell me what the F is going on or are you going to make me guess?" She asked as she slid into the booth across from the other woman.
Heather looked up, took a mouthful of her expensive Scotch and managed a weak smile. "You could at least say hello," she answered drily.
Ayumi sighed and then replied, "Hello. Now just what the hell has got you drinking like - well, like some of the weekend regulars?"
That got a small chuckle from Heather, who then proceeded to order yet
