I said my goodbyes to Lachlan before we left for our respective work places.  I was to board Simba One with Shane and Alexandra on an official goodwill junket to Sierra Leone, South Africa and Libya. 

            We boarded the official presidential jet of Kenya at the Mara airport.  The traveling party consisted of Shane, Alexandra, me, Amy Chui, the couple’s personal staff three Masai guards and of course the always present media.  The engines began their whine; we taxied down the runway, lifted and banked to the north and our first visitation to Libya where we would be met in Tripoli by President Muamar Ghadaffi.  It was Shane and Alexandra’s first time away from their recently born children and they were feeling a bit sad at the thought that they wouldn’t see Sacha and Tanya for ten days. 

            At the State House, a bitterly disappointed Kay Kudu did her first turn as a docent heading tours of the government house.  There was no Shane Simba present to ogle and swoon over that day. 

            Caroline Cheetah Simba, fed up with her current role as housewife and full time mother sought employment once more.  Dodi Dik Dik Lyon, being a user of drugs and liquor and deciding her beauty sleep was more important than her job as anchor for the evening news at WMM-TV, had turned in her resignation.  Irving Impala, the owner, hired Caroline to replace her.  Caroline had hosted a very popular cooking show at one time at the television station.  Irving knew her to be clever. chic and photogenic.  Sloane Simba was not happy with his wife’s choice.  He preferred that Caroline stay home and tend their small cub, Cindy.  However, Sloane knew not to tweak his volatile wife and let things be.

Caroline at the television studio for WMM-TV in the Masai Mara....

            Staci Simba was growing restless.  She was not enjoying her work in Tanzania as much as she had anticipated.  It seemed to her that the animals she was training all held chips on their shoulders and resented the presence of a Kenyan animal as their teacher and supervisor.  Although she was enjoying a physical relationship with Pete Levin, their lion president, she missed her friends and relatives in the Masai Mara.  She resigned her post at the hospital and headed once more for Kenya and home.  She knew that her dad and Alex were on a ten day trip and decided to stay at the mansion and oversee their children in their absence. 

            Another one of Shane’s offspring was feeling restive as well.  Sean Simba, Shane’s oldest son with his late wife, Catherine, had been sent feelers by the All Star’s Soccer Team in the Mara which was headed by Junior Lyon.  Sean’s extraordinarily talented and precocious soccer playing had been noticed when Junior and his brother Charley had paid a visit to Sean’s finishing school in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Shane had sent his son there hoping Sean would develop a love for academics as he had.  Sean had only grown more enamored of his favorite sport.  When Sean called the mansion in the Mara, he got his sister on the line. 

“Where is dad?” asked Sean.

“He and Alex are visiting some African countries.  I think they will be in South Africa at some point.  Why?”

“I’ve gotten an offer from Junior Lyon to play on the All Stars team.  I can’t pass this up, Staci.  Do you think Dad will go ape shit if I take the offer?”

 

“You know Dad, Sean.  He usually wants his kids to do what they want in life.  I think if you really want this, Dad will let you go for it.”

“We’ll see.  I think I am going to accept Junior’s offer.  I just became legal age.”

“Go for it, Sean.”

            Two days later, our party arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Shane paid a visit to Sean’s school with Alexandra.  Sean, with a certain amount of trepidation, told his father of Junior Lyon’s offer and the fact that he had accepted it. 

“I’ll finish my schooling in the Mara, Dad, but I have no desire to be a lawyer, doctor or Indian chief,” said the son to the father. 

Disappointment was written all over Shane Simba’s face.  This oldest son, he had hoped would love academia as he had.  This was not the case, quite obviously.  Alexandra placed a hand on Shane’s arm. 

“I think every family needs a top notch athlete, Luv,” she said softly.  “Don’t you?”

“You’re right as usual, Alex, we can’t all be lawyers and politicians.  Go for the gold, Son.”

Sean threw his arms around his father. 

“Thanks, Dad.  I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Son.  When will you leave for the Mara?”

“Next week at the end of the school term.”

“We’ll be there by then and look forward to seeing you,” said his stepmother.  “We’ll have a grand dinner to celebrate.”

“I’ll stay in the mansion until I find a place and thanks for everything Dad and Alex.”

            The ten day trip passed quickly with much good will created even in the tempestuous Libya.  Muamar Ghadaffi also gifted Alexandra with an Arab mare.  We spent a wonderful time with the Nelson Mandela’s in Cape Town before leaving for home. 

Above in Libya with Ghadaffi who gave Alexandra an Arabian mare to add to her collection of fine horses....

Above Shane and Alexandra in South Africa and Sierra Leone....

            Our plane touched down in the late afternoon.  I was taken to my house where I awaited, with great excitement and drinks, the arrival of Lachlan.  Shane and Alexandra arrived at the mansion to find that Staci had the twins in their pram and was waiting on the lawn when the helicopter touched down.  Sean was also there waiting for his family.  There was great merriment and happiness as the family gathered for an elaborate dinner.  That weekend they all went to the bush house where Solly, Jalil and Tarek joined them for the weekend.  Staci and Alexandra rode horses together.

             Betty Chimpo and Jack Tarzan arrived back in Kenya after a glorious week in Manhattan.  They enjoyed the crisp weather with walks in Central Park and dinners at small intimate restaurants in the Village and Soho.  They brought Betty’s cubs generous gifts.  Their household settled down as it had been to one of great affection and contentment.  However, Betty knew that any more displays of her jealousy of Shane and his new life would not sit well with Jack. 

            Caitlin Cougar Leo was granted a divorce from Homer Leo.  Chris Simba’s divorce was still being fought by his wife, Johanna Delacroix Simba.  Nevertheless, the courts had evicted her from Caitlin’s home on Leoparde Drive. 

“Caitlin, I want you to stay here with me in Tanzania,” said Chris one evening over drinks on their new patio.  “We will work this thing out.”

His new home had finally been completed.  It was quite nice and beautifully situated in the savanna on the Serengeti plains. 

“I think I’ll rent the house again,” she mused.  “I’m enjoying life here too.  I am selling a lot of my sculpture in that new art gallery run by a lioness.”

            Her new tenants were none other than Staci Simba and her brother, Sean.  Since the house was very large, having been built by the late Lawrence Leoparde, the siblings decided they would make suitable housemates.   Shane was picking up the rental tab on the house for his two eldest offspring.  Staci had her old job back as supervisor of emergency nursing at the Tigeres-Lyon Hospital.  Sean was embarking on a career in professional soccer and taking courses at the Nairobi University branch in the Mara.  I took them a large pot of geraniums as they were my neighbors.  The only tense situation on the block lay just next door at the home occupied by Leah Simba who had taken quick hold of Staci’s ex-husband, Juma Mnyama, and was engaged to the lion doctor.  The first cousins acknowledged each other if they happened to be in their yards at the same time but other than those occasions, there was no social intercourse whatsoever. 

            Junior Lyon and his brother Charley stood watching in wonder.  The subject of their awe was the recently acquired member of their professional soccer team, Sean Simba.  Junior, who is a champion in his own right and has, as the head coach, led our soccer team to glory as a team to be reckoned with, was greatly pleased at Sean’s remarkable ability as a player.  He stood with Charley and watched the President’s oldest son in practice.  Sean Simba, though still quite young, almost sported a full mane.   He had none of the appearance of his cheetah mother but bore a great resemblance to his lion father. 

“He needs to start as a first stringer,” noted Junior.

“He sure as hell does.  He is absolutely great,” agreed Charley. 

            The night was clear as a bell.  Our rains were beginning intermittently but had chosen not to pour down on this night of the Masai Mara All Stars first soccer game of the season.  There was much hoopla for this game.  It was to be the introduction of several new players including the President’s oldest son.  The crowd thronged the bleachers.  Heads turned as the President arrived with his beautiful wife.  Lachlan and I went, he being a former soccer player during his school years.  The crowds roared as we beat the hell out of the South African team.  Sean Simba proved his worth scoring several field goals.  He was the hero of the night. 

Sean Simba at the All Stars soccer game.....

“He is so good, Luv.  Aren’t you glad you let him have his head about this soccer thing?” asked Alexandra toward the end of the game. 

“I believe it was you, my darling, who pushed the envelope,” was her husband’s response.  “And I am so glad you did.”

Alex and Shane at the game sitting next to Ashley Lyon....

            The first couple had become so popular in the global media they were followed everywhere by avid photographers and reporters attempting to catch glimpses of them with their children or just plain out and about.  Shane hired a press secretary for Alexandra. 

            Staci Simba was with a group of nurses at the Watering Hole Pub on a Friday night.  She noticed Ashley Lyon standing at the bar not far from their table.  He turned and winked at her. 

“Oooh, Staci, he’s hot,” giggled a leopardess nurse who had noticed Ashley’s wink. 

“I know he is,” acknowledged Staci.  “That’s Ashley Lyon.”

“I know who he is.  He’s the old president’s son.  He’s a looker…..sooo cute.  Why don’t you go for it?”

“He’s married to Lucy Cougar who went to nursing school with me.  We were sort of friends,” demurred Staci. 

“So the hell what?  Marriage doesn’t plug up all the holes.   He’s hot as hell.  I wish he had winked at me,” insisted her friend. 

Ashley finished his drink and came to the table where they sat.  She introduced him to her friends. 

“Dance with me, Staci?” he asked.

“I’d love to.”

He led her to the designated area and began to dance with her.  His movements were slow, sinuous and expert. 

“What are you doing back in the Mara?  I thought you were in Tanzania?” he asked, slipping a hand to where it almost rested on her comely rear.  He massaged her back with a one finger movement which, quite frankly,  was arousing.

“Tanzania’s not for me.  I’m living in Lawrence Leoparde’s old house on Leoparde Drive - next door to Leah.  My brother, Sean, and I are renting it from Caitlin Cougar.”

“I saw his first soccer game the other night.  Junior says he is sure to be the star of the team with a few more games under his belt.  He is a terrific player.  When my understated big brother Junior raves about one of his players, you know he’s headed for glory.”

Suddenly Staci was overcome with desire for the lion that is considered the sexiest in Kenya along with her dad. 

“Want to see my new place?” she asked, quite out of breath. 

He looked amused.  “Is that sort of a 'see my etchings' invitation?” he laughed. 

“I’m afraid so…..yes, it probably is.”

“I thought you’d never ask.  What took you so long?”

“Let’s go.  I’ll get my purse,” she said, grabbing his hand. 

Ashley Lyon and Staci Simba....