Maurice & Friends

Lachlan, Jack Tarzan and I were merrily drinking rum drenched grog at Jack’s beach home in Mombasa. Leah Simba was expected to join Jack on Christmas Eve with her offspring, Kitty, Brad, Adam and Sim Lyon. If the weather allowed, we all planned to squeeze in a bit of fishing. Our threesome drunkenly hoisted toasts to just about everyone and everything. We were amid the high clover of an alcoholic haze, having completed work for the remainder of the holiday. The term ‘kicking back’ was designed for our group.

me, Lachlan holding wine carafe, and Jack Tarzan blow it out in Mombasa during Christmas break....

“Are you sure, Betty?”

“Positive, I need a new look and you’re the one to give it to me.”

Paulette draped the protective cloth around Betty Chimpo’s shoulders and took up the shears. She began snipping away expertly. Betty had marvelous hair and Paulette Poodle enjoyed having her way with it.

“By the way, congrats on your new job at the university,” said Paulette, as she cut away at her client’s thick brunette mop.

Paulette Poodle gives Betty a new look.....

Sacha and Tanya Simba were exhausted tots when they took to an early bed. They had played wildly all day, enjoying their parent’s luxuriant Christmas tree in the bush house with the spirit and childhood excitement of coming delights on a certain morning. The house was now quiet, Solly, Tarek and Jalil Simba were having dinner with their mother and Wilda Wildebeest on Leoparde Drive.

The First Tot's stockings....

“Are Staci and Ash coming for dinner?” asked Shane, lighting a cigarette and accepting the drink his wife offered him.

“No, Luv, they are going to the Lyon pride Christmas party,” said Alexandra Simba.

“And Sean?” asked his father.

“I don’t suppose he wants to be around you anymore than is mandatory, Shane. You’ve been such a prig where he is concerned,” announced Alex, lighting a cigarette with an air of disregard for that which had just dropped from her lips.

Shane Simba’s jaw dropped. He looked up in amazement at the figure of his wife, who was pouring herself another glass of wine.

“A what?” he gasped.

“A prig, a goody two shoes, a hypercritical supercilious bear where Sean is concerned and it is most unbecoming. I’ve been meaning to say more, Shane.”

Shane was rendered silent by his beloved wife’s unaccustomed criticism. All he could manage was, “Do go on. You seem to be on a bloody roll.”

“For a male who has hurt and played around on innumerable females, both animal and human, and made an absolute horror of yourself during many a high profile adulterous affair, you are unquestionably a hard ass with your son who is not even married.”

Shane put his hands on his hips. His green eyes were confused.

“Are you finished yet, Alex?”

“You should never be judgmental about a young male’s horny behavior – ever. He is your son, a true chip off the old block. He needs your support and guidance, not your censure and totally unattractive prudishness.”

“Why don’t you say what you really think, Alex? Don’t be shy!” roared Shane, in a fit of sarcasm.

“I just did, Luv,” she answered, heading for the kitchen.

Alexandra gives Shane a lecture about his son, Sean....

Betty and Wilda check the table before their guests arrive..

“Mom, you look great,” noticed Solly Simba. “I like your hair.”

They were at the dinner table decorated with holly and Christmas candles. Their mother and her best friend, Wilda (known to all of Betty’s offspring as ‘Aunt Willie’) were playing hostess to Betty’s six sons.

“Thank you, darling Solly,” said Betty.

“Mom, I’m getting my degree a bit early. I will be coming home from England for good this spring,” announced Arlon Lyon, Betty’s oldest son with Ashley Lyon. “I am graduating with a degree in international business instead of heading for law school. Uncle Lewis has offered me a job heading one of the divisions in his construction empire.”

Betty clapped her hands in delight, “Oh, Arlon, how wonderful, darling.”

The assembled group congratulated Arlon, and Babs, who had joined the diners at the table, went to the kitchen and brought forth a bottle of the best champagne.

“I’ll leave the lawyering to you Simbas,” said Arlon to his brothers, lifting his glass in a toast.

“Awright…I’ll drink to that,” chuckled Joshua Simba who was planning to be an attorney.

Ashley Lyon happened to be at his parent’s home when his sister, Lisa Lyon Leo arrived. Ralph and Mildred Lyon were relaxing in their living room chatting with Ashley when Lisa joined them. As conversations will often do, this one meandered through several topics before arriving at President Shane Simba’s appointment of his nephew to the chancellorship of Kenya University in the Mara.

“That was despicable, Dad. The Leos have always been known as the scholars and teachers in the area and that damn Shane Simba just stepped on everyone’s toes and ignored the Leos for another one of his pride members. Disgusting,” snarled Lisa, casting a quick look at her brother who is married to the President’s daughter, Staci.

“I thought it a bit too much,” agreed Ashley.

Ralph, who loves Shane like a son and promoted his presidency, appeared to be in deep thought.

“The Leo pride is pissed and with Daddy William sick, it is a major distraction," continued Lisa.

“Staci, it seems the Leo pride felt insulted when your dad appointed his nephew, Terry, to that big university job. The Leos are a powerful pride and they are the real scholars. Their pride was reading Shakespeare and ordering their meat form Paris, France when Mom was still stalking wildebeest.”

The couple was sitting in their living room before a cozy fire.

“I wonder if Daddy even thought of them, Ash.”

“Why don’t you mention it to him, Staci? You’re his big love and can tell him anything,” suggested Ashley.

“I’ll mention this to Alex. She’s the one that can absolutely tell Daddy anything and get away with it,” giggled Staci.

The one that ‘could tell Daddy absolutely everything and get away with it’ had done just that – once again. After the dressing down Alexandra had given Shane in regard to his oldest son, she had found him staring into the dying flames in the fireplace, holding an empty glass. She gently removed the glass from his hand and poured another Scotch for him.

“It’s all right, darling; you can afford a bit of imperfection from time to time. Just try to go easy on Sean and practice a bit of understanding,” she soothed.

He pulled her next to him on the couch. “I have been an ass, Alex. Thanks for pointing that out. I love you so much, darling.”

“I love you more,” she giggled, kissing him.

the Carson Cougar's bush home....

Carson Cougar and his wife, Monica Margay Cougar, had a Christmas party in the beauteous bush house Ashley Lyon had built for Betty Chimpo and sold to his cubhood friend, Carson, after the marriage went bust. The rain had poured on and off all day, causing tree frogs and cicadas to reach a fever pitch in their chorusing. The lovely home with the huge thatched roof was filled with guests mingling about the spacious rooms. Arlon Lyon attended with Ashley and Staci.

Arlon, drink in hand, went to the main veranda, taking a brief respite from the party. The eaves were dripping rain onto the lush fern filled shrubbery just below. Arlon breathed in the clean rain kissed air.

“Isn’t Africa incredible?” asked a voice behind him. “I missed it so when I was in Belize….the sounds and scents of this continent are like nowhere else on earth.”

Arlon looked into the most amazing eyes he had ever seen on a female ---- the clear amber eyes owned by Angelina Cougar, daughter of his host and hostess.

“I’m stuck in London and I miss all of it. I suppose I am a true son of the African bush,” answered Arlon. “When did you return?”

“I just returned from college in Belize. I’m a realtor now.”

“I am returning in the spring. I will graduate then. Maybe you can find me a place to hang my hat.”

“It will be my pleasure. We have a date now, don’t forget.”

“How could I?” breathed Arlon.

Never let it be said that Shane Simba is unwilling to right a perceived wrong in his presidency. Someone got to him on the matter of the university chancellor. I don’t know whether it was his daughter, Staci, or wife, Alexandra. My money is on Alex but then the State House was closed for business for the remainder of the holidays so I wasn’t privy to official moods and posturing. Whatever the reason, it was announced in the Masai Mara Daily and Kenya Post that Homer Leo would be appointed the vice chancellor of Kenya University at the Mara in an investiture service slated for the first of the year.

A house party was in the making. Sean Simba and his cousin, Troy’s digs were almost complete. The two sports stars put forth a great deal of money between them and ordered new furnishings to be delivered to the location. Those among the invited for the blow out and projected drunken fun fest were Imani Lyon, Georgy Simba, Delilah Dik Dik, and Sandi Sandcat to name only a few.

“What’s with this guy, Betts? Caffeine addiction out the ass?” inquired Wilda Wildebeest when Betty had announced her intentions of joining an unidentified friend for Starbucks coffee on the pub’s deck.

“He is a literary buff like me, Willie,” laughed Betty. “We need our coffee to stay awake.”

“I do hope he is a fellow ape and not of the leonine persuasion,” half teased Wilda. “And just remember that coffee and males are better rich.”

Betty heads for the pub with her new look....

The brief respite in the seasonal rains had brought many to the deck of the Watering Hole Pub this pre-Christmas afternoon. Betty spotted Dickey Simba at almost the moment he saw her. He stood to greet her in an impeccable corduroy jacket and dark slacks.

“Whatever you did to your hair becomes you, Betty,” he noticed, sitting down again.

“Thank you, Dickey; I felt a change coming on. I suppose I want to switch into an entirely new gear with this university job.”

“I’ve kept up with you, which has been rather easy with your fame, and I’ve sort of admired the way you’ve conducted yourself under pressure.”

“Dickey, I have been a train wreck at times. I’ve not been proud of a great deal of my adulthood,” she laughed, accepting the light he offered.

“I’m sure the pressure has been terrific, especially your marriage to Shane. I understand he is no day at the beach anyway.”

“I am sure you are aware that I had a full body makeover before I married the white tiger…..”

“Whatever works for you, I always say.”

They had been sipping coffee, smoking cigarettes and chatting amiably for more than an hour. A very light drizzle began. Dickey looked at his watch.

“Betty, this has been most enjoyable. I have an appointment to look at a piece of property that I plan to buy. I live in a rented condo in the Watering Hole group. The tenant wants it back. I wish you a wonderful evening and very Merry Christmas, Betty,” he said, standing and handing the waiter money for their coffees. “Ciao.”

He made his way down the steps leading from the deck and headed for the parking lot. Betty ordered a martini.

Mildred Lyon phoned me. She was in a state of high giggles. Lachlan and I were feeling humorous ourselves, having gotten quite happily inebriated in Mombasa.

“I must snap a picture of Ralph in his Santa Claus cap. He is entertaining all the little cubs and grandcubs at our pride Christmas party. He looks adorable.”

“Merry Christmas to all of you, Millie,” I told her as Lachlan refilled my glass with rum punch.

Ralph Lyon in his Santa gig.....