EXTRACT FOR
Tishala In The City
(Alice Ebuya)

"Your girls are all topless?" he had stated one afternoon, he had arrived to repair a leaking pipe in the bathroom, "I mean, you don't wear anything except beads and a little skirt?"

Tishala had nodded. "Only married women cover their breasts."

Trevor had chuckled. "Did you bring any of your tribal stuff here with you?"

Tishala had smiled, she couldn't leave her heritage behind, just because she had married and left Kenya didn't mean that she had changed... she was still a Masai, and always would be. "I brought all of my beads," she replied, "Everything from before I became a married woman."

"I'm sure you must have looked stunning, wearing your tribal jewellery," Trevor had said quietly, "I've always been interested in different cultures, but I've never seen a true Masai maiden before... it's such a shame that you don't wear your traditional outfit here."

"I can show you, if you really want to see," she had stated, flattered that someone should show such an interest in her culture. "No, it is no inconvenience." she had swiftly replied as Trevor explained that he wouldn't want to put her out in any way.

Trotting through to the bedroom she had pulled a small suit case from the bottom of the wardrobe, then carefully arranged all of her beads on the bed. Stripping she had oiled her body so that her skin glistened and after securing her leather skirt she donned her headdress and studied herself in the mirror. Tishala gave a small smile, she was an unmarried maiden again, and somehow to be dressed as she had always resented felt very comfortable.

It's because society and tribal law forced me to remain topless she told herself, but now it's actually nice, a statement of my heritage.

"This is what I wore as an unmarried woman," she said as she returned to where Trevor was sitting, "In my culture only married women may cover themselves."

"I just knew you would be stunning." Trevor gasped as he stood, "And your skin, so dark and exotic, it looks so soft and supple."

Tishala smiled, he had drawn closer and was studying the intricate beads that threaded and fixed into a band around her neck that drooped down onto her breasts.

"This beadwork is amazing," he said quietly and reached up to run a finger across the tightly bound neck band. "So intricate," he traced down to where a small circular metal pendant dangled on a beaded string that rested against her skin, just above her breast. Beside the pendant a thin string of orange and blue beads ran, she had matching strands around her waist, and although not strictly traditional for her tribe she liked to wear several as long necklaces. 

"Such a wonderful colour contrast." he said softly as he followed the beads down with his finger before pressing an orange section against her skin just to the side of her nipple. "Orange compliments your colouration perfectly," he stated, then shifted his finger from the beads until it rested on the darker band of her areola. "It looks amazing, the contrast, from warm orange to the lovely chocolate brown of your breast, and then the sumptuous dark ebony of your wonderful nipple."

Tishala looked down in confusion, he was discussing her beads, but in a way he seemed to be getting a little too familiar. But he is Adam's friend, his actions are innocent she assured herself as his finger pressed a little harder against her nipple.

"I hope you don't mind me discussing you like this." he looked up into her eyes and smiled. "It's as I told you, I am fascinated with your culture, I've just never had an opportunity to get up close enough to touch before."

"I don't mind at all." she replied quietly, then silently congratulated herself. See, I was right, he's Adam's friend, and he's not being forward, he's just curious.

"I love these matching beads around your waist," he added as dropping slowly to his knees he began to study. "And you African girls have such pronounced hips. I love the shape, slim waist, wide hips, and the way half of these beads rest on your skirt. Is it antelope hide?" he asked as he pinched the bottom of the flap and tested it between finger and thumb.

"Calf skin." Tishala replied and looked down as he continued to rub the soft leather.

"Very supple," he commented, "I don't know how you make it so soft."

Casually he lifted the flap and studied her pubis. 

"Just as I presumed," he nodded, "I was sure that tribal outfits like yours would not include underwear."