Maurice & Friends

Betty and Shane spent a wonderful weekend in their new retreat in the savanna. Shane’s driver picked up young Sonny and his nanny at Caroline’s apartment;

Jason and Joshua Simba were delivered by their dad, Sam, to the State Mansion where he joined his brother and Betty for coffee. The large family set out in a motorcade, complete with drivers and guards, for their new and very alluring digs in the bush country. Betty noticed that her son, Jason, was beginning to look just like his uncle, her current husband. Jason had the green eyes of Shane Simba. Sean Simba, who was now around seven months old, was strong and active, attempting to bring his stepmother down in play.

“Cut that out, Sean,” roared his dad, causing Sean to hesitate only a bit.

The slender, delicately framed, made over chimpanzee now had three lion sons, two lion mixed stepchildren and one full lion stepson. Jason was approximately the same age as his cousin, Sean Simba. They played well together and were in that very rambunctious stage of lion cubs as they pass through to maturity. Joshua Simba, Betty’s second son (by Sam) was only a few months younger than his half brother, Arlon Lyon. Joshua had calmed considerably. He was now very studious and engaged in books as is his father. The entire passel of Simba kids made for an animated and garrulous household when together. Betty had requested a banquet length table to be put in the new home. That day at lunch and dinner, the conversation was lively to say the least. Shane, Betty and their assembled children, engaged in topics ranging from Kenyan politics to disco dancing. Baby Sonny sat in his high chair and pounded a spoon on the tray, chipping in on the fun and adding to the boisterous noise levels. The weekend was curative and very rewarding for the family. It was a great way to end Shane’s first week as the president.

I had made a major booboo in telling Betty that Mildred Lyon and her daughter, Lisa Lyon Leo, had the AIDS crisis covered. Betty and I lunched with them in the presidential dining room. Lisa told Betty of how AIDS was striking the Masai in droves and that over one million human children in Kenya were orphaned.

“The fact of growing prosperity doesn’t factor in,” said Mildred. “AIDS and HIV are indigenous in the human population in Kenya.”

“What can I do?” asked a horrified Betty.

“Help us, Betts. Go about with us. Mom and I are going to ten villages this week. Go with us,” was Lisa’s request to the new first lady.

Two days later, Betty met Mildred Lyon and Lisa Leo at the Masai Mara government airstrip. They took off in one of the presidential light planes to upper Kenya where they would assist, along with UNICEF officials, in helping the village mothers with AIDS, deal with the problem.

I walked into to the State House one morning to hear Shane Simba tell me to go down the hall to Ralph’s office. Ralph was standing behind his desk, gazing out the window. I had not seen him since the inaugural ball. I was delighted.

“Maury,” he roared in greeting, giving me one of his tremendous bear hugs (or should I say lion?) and almost squeezing the breath out me with his terrific strength. “So good to see you! I hope you are enjoying my successor.”

“Shane and I are working very well together, Ralph but I can’t help but miss you. We worked so smoothly together. And I just plain miss you.”

“You and Lachlan will have to come to the house one evening and have supper with Millie and me. Doris and the other lionesses miss your visits.”

Betty, Mildred and Lisa worked alongside the UNICEF workers and an American lady who has endowed a state of the arts AIDS center in Kenya. The threesome dressed down and got dirty. Betty wore jeans and a kerchief on her head while helping mothers learn to feed their infants and nursing children goat or cow milk instead of their breast milk which was infected with the virus. Betty learned how to milk a cow and goat in the process. They slept on cots in a small hut assigned them at night. The discomfort of the bedding mattered not at all. Their fatigued bodies fell asleep the moment their heads hit the straw filled pillows. They went from village to village, taking the small aircraft with the single bush pilot. In each village they did the same. Betty was stricken at the suffering of the mothers who were, in many instances, bedridden from the illness. They were of childbearing age but wore the look of the AIDS victim which gives the impression of one being years beyond their actual age. Skeletal mothers reached out for Betty, Mildred and Lisa when they approached their beds. They stayed among the anguished villagers for ten days, flying home on the eleventh.

The helicopter landed on the lawn of the State House. Betty walked in the front door, wearing the same jeans, work shirt and kerchief she had worn in the villages. Shane, Charley Lyon, some dignitaries and ministers from Nairobi and I were all standing in the hall when she entered. We had just come from a day long meeting for a tea break. At the sound of footsteps, Shane turned toward his wife. His tawny eyes lit with pleasure as he walked toward her. Several of the ministers turned and smiled to themselves at the sight of the young president’s obvious affection for his spouse.

“Fifi, I have been waiting for the moment you would get back,” he said, giving her a hug.

“Shane, darling, I am absolutely grimy. I have to soak in the tub for awhile before you get close to me. I’ll see you at the house, my love.”

“We only have another hour before this damn meeting is over. I can’t wait to see you at home.”

Betty entered the State Mansion and went directly to the family’s quarters. She was met by Babs and Miss B who were glad to see her and reported that Staci and Sean were spending the night with school mates. Babs drew water into the huge marble tub with the water jets on each side. The steam began to rise scenting the air with the bath oils Babs had splashed across the roiling water. Betty slipped into the tub and adjusted the jets. She sipped the wine that Babs had put on the ledge. The warm water foamed over and around her. She dozed. She waked to find Shane entering the tub with her. He picked her up and slipped beneath placing her on his lap.

“Shane, I have so much to tell you,” she said, kissing his face all over.

“First things, first, Fifi, I’m hungry for you.”

They made love in the tub, got out drying each other and continued to the bed where they commenced to do the same. At last, they lay side by side smoking cigarettes.

“Let’s order our dinner to the room and have them build a fire. The children aren’t here. We might as well take advantage of this luxurious living, Fifi. We’re stuck here for awhile.”

“Shane, I saw so much misery in the villages. It was terrible.”

“Well, you know that AIDS began with apes” he teased. “You guys are responsible.”

“Oh, I know that Shane. It’s terrible. It was the bush meat trade where they think it began.”

“Just joking, Fifi. Don’t take it to heart. Tell me about your trip.”

She described everything, leaving nothing out.

“Shane, I committed myself to the Cultural Center project but now I’m more dedicated to the AIDS issue.”

“I know Leah is the mayor now and pretty damn busy, but she has boundless energy. Why don’t you get her on your cultural center committee and let her run with it?”

“That’s a wonderful idea, darling.”

Betty and Shane after her trip.....

Betty went on WMM-TV and made a plea for the plight of AIDS orphans and the crisis in the villages and Nairobi. Janice (Jaguar) and Roy Lee Simba were watching that evening. Janice is one of the kindest animals I know as is her wed-twice husband, Roy Lee. They discussed the matter between them and decided to visit a human orphanage in Nairobi. Once there, they adopted an infant boy orphaned by AIDS. The counselor suggested that they adopt a youngster since he was human and they were animals. She felt he would grow up and bond with them as he did. The adoption made the global news, considering Roy Lee’s superstar celebrity. It made ripples, causing interest in the adoption of those children made parentless by the dread disease.

Chief Deputy Carson Cougar was distressed. It had been reported to him that his daughter, Linda, had left a mess in her rented Watering Hole Condo in addition to the final month’s rent and pay for damages. Chief Bubba Simba had told Carson that he thought his daughter was living with Sidney Simba in the disreputable house in the bush. Carson wrote a check for Linda’s delinquent rent and damages.

“Let’s pay them a visit, Carson,” suggested Bubba.

With no sirens sounding, Bubba and Carson drove to the house known as the Simba Fuck Farm. Bubba rapped his night stick on the door. He banged again. Finally a male voice asked who was there.

“The law,” roared Bubba. “Let us in now.”

Sidney Simba opened the door. The house was a mess as Carson and Bubba made their way through opened tin cans littering the floor.

“Where is Linda?” snarled Carson.

Sidney pointed to a partially closed door. Behind it, Carson saw his daughter half nude and smoking a cigarette. She was lying on a sheetless bed clutching a soiled blanket to her bosom.

“Dad,” she said, without much interest or alarm. She was obviously stoned.

“We’re getting out of here, Linda. Right now and don’t argue.”

But there was no fight left in the drug riddled young female. She put on more clothes and went willingly with her father to the squad car. Sidney resisted. Since there was no law being broken at the moment, Bubba left his half brother at the door of his house. The police car pulled out of the drive narrowly missing the arrival of the drug toting leopard dealer. Linda was taken by the two and admitted to the drug rehab unit of the mental health center.

Steven Simba stood at the bar in the Watering Hole Pub. He was discouraged. Cameron Caracal had promised to meet him there but had failed to do so. He looked at his watch with a furrowed brow. Caitlin Cougar, having delivered another piece of sculpture to the arts center and receiving a check for some sales, came to the bar and stood next to him. She ordered a white wine, despite her pregnancy. She lit a cigarette.

“Caitlin, what are you doing here?” asked her former brother-in-law.

“I’m celebrating. I just received a nice check for my sculptures. I’m having a forbidden glass of wine and ignoring my pregnancy for the moment,” she laughed.

“You and Sloane aren’t getting back together because of the litter?” asked Steven.

“No, Steve. Sloane’s heart is not into making a marriage work. And it is just one cub. I’m getting my nursery ready. I bought the house next door to my Uncle Bernard and Aunt Sylvia.”

“That’s a nice thing. I’m sure they are very helpful to you.”

“Yes they are. In fact, I have a dresser that I bought for the baby. Uncle Bernard is coming over next week to move it to another wall for me.”

“If you want me to, I’ll come and move it myself. Your uncle’s got some age on him. I’ve been stood up anyhow.”

“Would you, Steve? That would be great. I’ve got some Scotch at my house. I’ll reward you with a drink,” she giggled.

She unlocked the door to her house and let them in. She led Steven to the nursery where the offending dresser stood. He moved it easily to its desired location.

“You lions are so strong. I envy you.”

“Yeah, we’ve got that going for us.”

“Now for the drink I promised.”

They conversed easily and contentedly, discussing the things that were going on in their lives. When it came time for Steven to leave, he handed Caitlin his business card with his office number which had his cell phone also.

“If you need anything, Caitlin, such as anymore furniture moved, you can give me a call. Since my brother is no longer available to help, maybe I can. Just consider me a friend and thanks for the drinks.”

She let him out the door with a pat on the shoulder and a kiss to his cheek, glad that she had made a ally of him.

“So, let’s talk about your life up to now, Linda,” probed Lachlan who had the young cat in his office.

Linda Cougar had been brought down by an orderly to her counseling session with Dr. Lachlan Lion at the mental health center. She fidgeted and asked if she could smoke. He allowed this and she snapped her lighter and put the flame to the cigarette. She remained silent.

“Let’s try this again, Linda. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner you will leave the center. Your mother lives in Montana?”

She blew smoke into the room before answering. “Yes, but I don’t want to go back there, Dr. Lion.”

“Why not?”

“Mom has one lover after another and has no interest in me. She’s very argumentative too. We don’t get along.”

“What about your father’s new wife, Monica?”

“I like her but she’s busy with two new cubs.”

“Linda, you’re an adult now and should be in charge of your own life. How did you end up with Sidney Simba and his drug activities?”

“I partied with the Simba brothers when they included Sloane and Steven. Sloane left the house and Steven moved away. There were a lot of females that used to come to that house in the bush. Now there’s just Sid and me.”

“You lost your job as a realtor too? am I correct?”

“Yeah, Jerrilyn fired me for being late and strung out.”

“So, Linda, we have nowhere to go with you but up. You’ve already hit near rock bottom.”

“Yes sir,” she said sadly.

“Betty, I’m pretty busy as mayor but I would love to be on your committee for the cultural center,” said Leah Simba Lyon, crossing her shapely legs and high heeled, sling sandaled feet.

“Would you head it, Leah?” pushed Betty.

“Of course, I will.”

“Oh wonderful, Leah, Shane thought you might. He thinks the world of you and your abilities.”

“I think the world of Uncle Shane too – and his wife,” smiled the pretty daughter of Roy Lee and Janice (Jaguar) Simba. “Just so I have sufficient time for Ash. You know how he is, Betty – you were his wife at one time. He likes plenty of attention.”

“Yes, I know,” giggled Betty. “But you are the real master with Mr. Ashley Lyon. You have finally tamed him, Leah.”

Leah saves the day and agrees to help Betty....

Stella Simba was in the middle of making her first film – Fanny. Bertram Baboon was directing and Micah Mbube was playing the romantic lead following his resounding success on stage in Macbeth. Micah, who was married now to Christine Cheetah, had once had a terrific crush on Leah Lyon. He found the same qualities in her sister, Stella, and had to remind himself that he was recently married and would be a father soon.

Across the Mara another shapely and very long leg was crossed and swinging. This one was barefooted and belonged to Caroline Cheetah. Sloane Simba sat in her elegant apartment half smashed on good Scotch.

“You’ve pulled a long face all evening, Sloane. Why don’t you come clean with the reason,” taunted Caroline who was watching her son, Shane Simba, Jr., toddle awkwardly across the Persian rug.

“That kid’s going to piss on that pricey carpet,” commented Sloane by way of avoiding the issue of his gloom.

“He’s the son of the president. He can piss on whatever he wants.”

“Oh Jesus, Caroline, give it a break,” he snarled, breaking into imitation and crooning: "He's the son of the PRESIDENT, he owns the fucking world."

“So why the dismal mood?” she asked, taking a foot and pressing it in his crotch.

“I went by Caitlin’s new house the other night and parked near the curb. I found my brother, Steven coming out of there.”

Caroline threw her long throat back and cackled with laughter.

“The Simba brothers’ wife swapping club is alive and well in the Mara again,” she hooted. “You gave us the Sam and Shane show. Soon it will be Steven and Sloane who share a wife and kids. That is just too rich, Sloane. No wonder you are depressed.”

He shot her a glare that was not at all pretty or sweet and took another swill of his drink.

“Someone should have broken your neck long ago, Caroline. You are a royal cunt,” he growled.

“Thanks for the royal,” she giggled. “I think you male lions are in no way over your need for a pride and multiple sex partners. Why don’t you return to pride life and just substitute other species for lionesses?”

He stood up and pulled her to him. He kissed her for a long time.

“I like the way you break necks,” she teased into his mane. “Before we go back to bed, I need to put little Shane in his crib too.”

“Of course, we can’t have his little bastard highness shocked by screwing in front of him…..like he would know.”

“Don’t talk that way about my son, Sloane.”

“Put him to bed, then. I’ll warm the bed for you. See you there,” he said, removing her panties and taking them to her room with him.

Sloane Simba in a funk, visits Caroline Cheetah.....