Maurice & Friends

There were no feathery snow flakes flying about the warm air of the Masai Mara this Christmas day, but we had one thing going on in most homes – cheer in abundance. Lachlan spent the night with me after we had dined with Bertram and Chad Cheetah. I had parked his new customized truck behind my potting shed where he couldn’t see it. We woke, after oversleeping off and on lazily, to eggnog that I made. Lachlan had placed my gifts under the tree. They were things of loveliness and much thought. I adored opening them. Then it was my turn to gift him, this lion lover who has made my life such a meaningful and gentle thing. I led him out to where the truck stood in all of its fresh and brilliant red. His eyes lit up. Lachlan does adore trucks. We went in the house and dressed for a trial run which took place on the main savanna road. He drove, bouncing among the rain created ruts and laughing merrily. Lachlan tried all the state-of-the-art gewgaws on the truck. He was a very happy chap and so was I.

Down the street in the home of Betty and Shane where they would spend their last Christmas for some time to come, Sean waked first. He ran to Betty and Shane’s room and waked them. Staci heard the commotion made by her younger brother and jumped out of bed. Then Arlon, who had downed a great deal of beer the night before with his best buddy, Tigger Tigeres, joined the group. Betty made eggnog, having given the household help the day off. Later, they go to Roy Lee’s house for Christmas dinner. Gifts were opened with great excitement and gusto. Shane had given Betty a diamond and emerald necklace of great beauty. She had thoughtfully gone through his wardrobe and noticed things he needed. There were soft cashmere jackets and sweaters as well as silk and linen shirts custom made by JAGGERS. The children got everything their heart’s desired.

Roy Lee’s glorious new home was packed with guests. The atmosphere was one of jubilation. He had invited the Simba pride members, Gloria Chimpo, Bertram Baboon, Lachlan and me, Chad Cheetah, Micah and Christine (Cheetah) Mbube and of course, his beloved Janice Jaguar. Sarah Lee arrived with her sister, Leander. She had always adored her former daughter-in-law, Janice Jaguar. They had remained close even after the divorce. When Roy Lee told her of Chloe’s request for a divorce, the aging lioness was jubilant. It was announced at the dinner that Roy Lee and Janice would wed as soon as the divorce from Chloe was final. I looked toward Bertram who raised his brow. We both looked toward Roy Lee’s older children by Chloe. Troy and Lee were clapping with pleasure. His younger cubs clung to Janice with great affection. Of course the greatest happiness lay in the faces of Roy Lee and Janice’s children who had all assembled for the great occasion.

Roy Lee Simba and Janice Jaguar in his screening room.....

Sylvia and Bernard Cougar spent the day in Mombasa where their dear friends, the Lyons and Dorian Cheetahs, were in residence. A vast brunch was held at Mildred and Ralph’s new beach home. Caitlin Cougar Simba had joined her parent’s and aunt and uncle for Christmas there. Later, Dorian and Cynthia Cheetah, Georgia and Carl Cougar, Sylvia and Bernard and Ralph and Mildred planned an afternoon of golf at the new sporting club in Mombasa owned by Lewis Lyon. Charley, the new vice president of Kenya was in attendance with his wife. A not so jolly guest was Caroline Cheetah who had been released for the immediate holiday from the mental health center. She sat smoking on the terrace of the Lyon’s new home. She decided to place a call. It was to Shane and Betty’s home demanding that she be able to see Sonny. The Masai guard answered the phone advising Caroline that Rais and Bibi Simba were not home. She then placed a call to Sloane Simba’s cell phone. He was amidst the cheery atmosphere of Roy Lee’s shindig. Sloane looked toward Shane who was conversing with Sam and Sefu Simba.

“I’m just too chicken shit to relay your message here, Caroline. I will ask him later and get back to you,” whispered Sloane into the phone.

“I want to see my son, NOW!” she raged.

Suddenly Sloane had an idea. He beckoned to Sefu who had given the court order for Shane Simba, Jr. to be removed from his mother’s custody. Sloane told Sefu who was on the phone and what she wanted. Sefu took the phone from Sloane.

“Caroline, you will have to prove yourself before I even give you visiting rights to that cub,” stated Sefu and hung up.

Caroline gave up on that topic, having been given Sefu Simba’s edict. She looked for more issues she could arouse. She spotted Caitlin Cougar Simba in the corner of the Lyon’s living room, looking through a coffee table book. She went to her former neighbor and sat down. She lit a cigarette.

“Didn’t you marry Sloane Simba?” asked Caroline.

“Yes, but we’re getting a divorce.”

“Those Simbas are so smutty. I just had Shane’s cub and now he has him by order of that damn chief magistrate brother of his. The whole pride is corrupt.”

“I’m pregnant but I will raise them alone,” added Caitlin sadly.

“Hmmmmm!” thought Caroline to herself.

That afternoon, Caroline Cheetah returned to the Masai Mara. She was to go to the mental health center in two days. But before that, she was partying with Sloane and Sidney Simba at the house on Mombasa Road. When she arrived, she heard laughter. She opened the door to find Linda Cougar, Sidney and Sloane Simba, Dr. Cary Caracal, Marci Mondo and Amy Chui, who had been her secretary during her brief time as director of the arts center. The leopard drug dealer arrived with goodies for all those imbibing. Amy Chui, Marci Mondo and Linda Cougar declined the drugs as did Sloane. Sidney, Cary Caracal and Caroline smoked, snorted and grew stoned and senseless. The reason for those who declined was the fact that their workplaces did drug testing. Sloane didn’t dare engage since Stuart Simba had introduced random drug testing into Simba Brothers & Associates. The arts center, Jackal Realty and the safari club also tested their employees. The group went to the various bedrooms to engage in orgiastic activities. Sloane drew Linda Cougar, Amy Chui and Caroline Cheetah to his bed. Caroline, feeling high and giddy, announced to Sloane that his wife was pregnant. It seemed to have a profound effect on the lion. He left the bed, disappointing his orgy mates. He went to his kitchen, poured another Scotch, lit a cigarette and went to the veranda where the clear night held a vivid moon and star studded sky. He left his house, guests and all, and drove toward his Mombasa home. Caroline had told him of seeing Caitlin at her aunt and uncle’s beach home. He arrived at sunrise.

Shane Simba and Lewis Lyon were hitting a serious volley of tennis across the net on a court at the Mara sporting club. Finally, Lewis beat Shane in what had been an equal win session for both the superb players. Shane invited Lewis to join him in the club house for a drink. When they were seated with their drinks, Shane told Lewis of his plans for the land he had bought in the savanna. Lewis had already gotten the blueprints from architect, Nat Cougar.

“That’s a great piece of land, Shane. I looked at it a few days ago. I think this house will be a place you and your family can kick back away from the State Mansion.”

“I’m sure I’ll need one, once I take office, Lew.”

“Dad never did have a place he could go to get away from it all. He would just drive out in the bush and sleep under a tree like the old days,” laughed Lewis.

“I don’t think that will do for me,” chuckled Shane. “I guess I’ve been too spoiled by the civilization your dad created.”

Later that same day, Betty drove with Shane and the Masai guards to see the land where they would build their retreat. The day was clear and beautiful, the African sun bright behind wispy clouds.

“It’s so gorgeous, darling. This will be perfect for us,” she said, putting her slender arm around his waist. “Just promise me that we won’t get so wrapped up in our presidential lives that we will lose each other.”

“Never, Fif, will we do that,” he said kissing her on top of her hair. “I could never distance myself from you.”

“Nor I you, Shane. I do adore you so much.”

“I feel the same about you, Betty.”

Betty asked Bertram Baboon and me to join her for a peep at the dresses Janice had designed for her inauguration day appearances. It was in a private fitting area of JAGGERS. Bertram was taking very seriously his role as Betty’s advisor. We saw the lovely gown for the ball as well as the dress for Shane’s inauguration.

“I do have a suggestion if I am to be your advisor, Betty,” piped Bertram with something of a moue. “I saw an unbecoming photograph of you and Shane the other week in the Mara Daily. You both had on bathing suits and were at the yacht club or some such place.”

“Unbecoming, Bertram? In what way?” asked the perplexed Betty, as Janice made some adjustments to the dress.

“We need a little less tits and crotch from you and definitely less dick from him,” was Bertram’s startling observation.

Janice and I collapsed in giggles.

Bertram sat with partner, Roy Lee Simba at their studio. Gloria Chimpo, as their main writer, was also present. The situation which created such personal joy in Roy Lee that Chloe was staying in Montana was creating problems for the studio. The next film slated was The Paradine Case where Chloe was to play opposite Roy Lee and Bertram was to direct.

“I say we shelve it for the time being, Roy Lee,” suggested Bertram. “Unless you want Bop Boon to play opposite you.”

“We’ve got Fanny slated with Stella (Simba) and Micah. We can’t get Simone Serval for a while. She’s doing theater next month. We need a new actress,” added Gloria.

“Bop won’t be convincing in that romantic role so let’s do shelve Paradine and we can send out some media reports that we need to audition prospective actresses,” sighed Roy Lee.

“Yes, of course, we’ll go angling for comely female flesh,” laughed Bertram.

And so they did, launching their need in all of the trade magazines globally.

Roy Lee went to his brother’s law office and quietly started divorce proceedings. Since the couple were in agreement as to their children and homes it was a simple no contest divorce. Roy Lee spoke with Chloe several more times. They were very amicable and friendly with each other. Roy Lee Simba had a way of remaining friendly with his ex-wives with the exception of Paula Puma Leo. However, when he would run into Paula around the Mara they would greet each other in an affable manner. Chloe didn’t want the children for the time being. Being a Leoparde family heiress, she had no need for the homes either. Lee and Troy chose to stay in the home of their father. Lee was going to Nairobi for a year of finishing school in the coming year. She would make the decision of further schooling after this. Everything seemed very agreeable. Roy Lee had gone to have a drink with Sylvia and Bernard. They had assured each other of staying close. The Cougar’s had their eyes fully open as to whose fault this divorce was. Sometimes a drunken Chloe would call Roy Lee and talk for hours asking his fatherly advice. Janice Jaguar understood all of the ramifications of Roy Lee’s life and resented nothing. She quietly moved into his home with him. His younger cubs badly needed a mothering presence and Janice was the kindest of animals. Janice recommended that they not wed too soon so as not to upset Sylvia and Bernard Cougar.

Steven Simba was in RUNNERS working out with Gerald Giraffe when his fellow lawyer and sometime lover, Cameron Caracal entered in her charming and sexy outfit to begin her evening fitness class. Steven was finally off crutches from his injured hamstrings garnered from the aerobic moves in Cameron’s class. Since he saw her daily at the office, Steven had removed himself and his injured legs from her class. She came over to where Steven was lifting barbells at Gerald’s instructions.

“I’ll bet those legs need the steam room later. Come to my classroom when you’re finished with Gerald,” instructed Cameron, giving Gerald a wink.

Cameron was just ending her class when Steven came to the door of room.

“Finished with Gerald?” she asked gaily.

“I am.”

He followed her to the unisex steam room area which was quiet. She removed her leotards, remaining in her gym shorts and spandex top. Steven removed all but his gym shorts. She popped the valve filling the room with heavy steam. With a full covering of vapor, she removed his shorts and massaged his legs one at a time. As she was kneading his legs, he removed her top and shorts. The steam hissed again, filling the room. He no longer cared that she saw his excitement. He placed her straddling his lap. They were in the throes of sexual passion when they heard the door open.

“My goodness,” purred Caroline Cheetah. “May I join you? I’m trying to steam the drugs out before my return to the funny farm.”

Cameron gulped back an irate reaction, aware that this was the daughter of owners, Dorian and Cynthia Cheetah who were hiring her for the evening aerobic class.

“We were just leaving,” gasped Steven.

“Oh, I’ll just play the comely voyeur,” giggled Caroline as Steven and Cameron made a hasty but rather indecorous retreat, gathering their wet clothes and attempting to put them on before they made a complete exit.

But Caroline failed to remove all vestiges of her holiday drug usage. She was tested immediately upon her arrival at the mental health center, a nurse watching to make sure she didn’t play funny with the urine sample. A day later, Lachlan sat in his office, Caroline before him, looking over the damning test results.

“It looks as if you had an exhilarating time on your brief Christmas break, Caroline. You tested positive for cocaine, marijuana and speed. Anything I may have missed?”

“Oh, a bit of crystal meth here and there,” she giggled.

“You seem to find this amusing, Caroline,” snapped Lachlan, who could be quite acerbic when needed. “You have a new son whose custody is in question until you clean up your act.”

“Oh, he is with daddy and gooey step mom for the moment,” laughed Caroline, lighting a cigarette. “Betty is probably salivating over the fact that he is from the loins of her favorite fixation, Shane Simba; those loins that she can’t use to procreative advantage.”

“You are quite the tasteless vixen, aren’t you, Caroline?”

“And while I am making my most credible points let me apprise you of the fact that your fellow physician and shrink, Cary Caracal is quite gone on drugs and sex herself. If you test your patients, I would also advise you to test your staff.”

“I don’t believe I need your advice on dealing with staff members, Caroline.”

But as soon as she cleared the door, he sat back and pondered Cary’s problems. She had come to work many days wired to the gills, exuding strange ideas in staff meetings. Her eyes had appeared wild and glossy. She was rail thin. Lachlan went to Gus Leo’s office to discuss drug testing the employees with his trusted colleague.