Maurice & Friends

Christmas is upon us. I’ve never seen Ralph as relaxed as he is these days, knowing that his beloved country will be in capable paws. He and Mildred had an open house at the State Mansion. Shane and Betty were by his and Mildred’s sides, welcoming the dignitaries and friends. He is his old jolly self. it appears that the weight of governing Kenya was bearing him down. He is taking off and playing golf with Mildred, Sylvia, Bernard and the Carl Cougars. He whistles to himself while working. This is an off time during the holidays. I drove with him the other day to see their new house in the Lyon Pride Compound. It is a wonderful home. The rooms are airy and light with large verandas encircling all four sides of the two story dwelling. The perfect place for a retired head of a pride to enjoy his multiple children and theirs. I asked him if Mildred minded him moving back among the other lionesses.

“No, Maury, she wanted this. Mildred is my main lioness. She is Kenya’s Mama Simba. We will live happily together in this house,” he told me. “Millie made my presidency a great one.”

Retiring president Ralph Lyon in front of his retirement home......

Betty and Shane dug in for their last weeks of privacy before his taking office. They toured the State Mansion where they would move after the inauguration. They had CHANGING SPOTS decorate rooms for Staci and Sean, similar to the one Betty had created for Arlon on Leoparde Drive. Shane stopped her from decorating a nursery for Sonny.

“Betty, we are not sure of keeping him,” he told her over drinks in their library. “Caroline has already filed in court to get him back once she is out of rehab.”

“Shane, can’t you take him from her? You are all powerful now,” she cried.

“Betty, I will not take a female’s child from her unless she mistreats it. I can’t believe you’re asking me to do this in light of what Sam did to you.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking but I know Caroline doesn’t care for him at all.”

“If she doesn’t, it will tell its own tale. We will apply for equal custody and see how things work out. Sef says she has to prove herself after she gets out of the mental health center. She won’t get him back until she does.”

“You know you will get visitation rights so let me fix a nursery for him. There are so many spare rooms in that house. Jason and Joshua can have one to themselves when they visit and of course there will a room for Arlon when he is home from school.”

“Okay, Fifi, just so you realize the reality of things. Sonny is not ours by a long shot.”

The privileges of being a president-elect were many. The children were thrilled when many of the stores in the Lewis Lyon Mall stayed open late and privately for Shane, Betty and their offspring to shop. They managed the remainder of their Christmas shopping in record time. They celebrated each evening over drinks near a warming fire, the rainy season seeming to continue. Kenyan nights, even during our summer, are quite chilly. Staci and Arlon were happily engaged in a round of parties. Sean was invited to those hosted by the various parent’s of his classmates. Betty and Shane would sit on the comfortable couch with Sonny sleeping in his basket nearby.

A strange thing was happening to Jason Simba, Betty’s son by Shane’s brother, Sam. He looked nothing like the blond maned, golden eyed Sam. He had the different coloring of his light eyed uncle, Shane. Shane had laughed when Betty pointed this out.

“I told you, Fifi. He is the same gene pool as my kids are. Only he is a pure lion and could end up looking a great deal like me – poor chap,” laughed Shane.

“Oh, he will be the luckiest lion in the world if he ends up looking like you, my beautiful husband,” rejoiced Betty.

“Fifi, you are terribly prejudiced but that’s okay – I like you that way,” he said, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Bertram Baboon and I decided to invite our old, dear friend, Betty Chimpo Simba, to lunch with us at OKAPI’S. We felt that the future first lady of Kenya would not be available to us when she took up her duties alongside her president-elect husband, Shane. Because Betty is a matter of much curiosity these days, Ossie Okapi put us in a private room where a smaller Christmas tree scented the room. Carols drifted from the speaker system. The table had been set, as requested, with Bertram’s favorite trays of crudités and cheeses. We had added Gloria Chimpo at the last moment. Betty arrived on time looking radiant as is her countenance since she married Shane Simba. We all sat and ordered drinks.

“Maurice and I decided we had best get you to probably your last luncheon before you become first lady,” said Bertram.

“You two will always be my best friends,” she laughed, putting a sliver of goat cheese on a cracker. “I will make time for you.”

“Betts, what are your plans for your role in Shane’s administration?” I asked.

“I think I need some advice from you all on that,” she said.

“I have many books on the late Jacqueline Kenney Onassis,” said Bertram. “I can see you doing something in the State House of the same nature she created in Washington. It was a unique time and you and Shane have that similar charisma. You have this young very gorgeous president and you, a beautiful first lady. It is the perfect opportunity to bring additional culture and arts to Kenya.”

“Bertram, what an exceptional suggestion,” I said, believing it to be an inspired proposal.

“Oh, Bertram, it is indeed!” chirped Betty, with a face filled with delight. “Will you and Maurice be my advisers?”

“Of course we will, Betts,” answered Bertram, popping a celery stick laden with cream cheese in his mouth.

“How is your dress to be for the inauguration and ball?” asked Gloria.

“Janice Jaguar is designing both.”

When Sloane Simba finally made his way back to his newly built home in the Mombasa Road Estates after having dragged his heels for several days, he found the house empty. He frantically went from room to room shouting, “Caitlin”, but she was nowhere within sight or sound. Caitlin had rented another charming place in the bush very near her former cottage. Feeling nauseas, she had checked her status at the Exotic Animal Clinic upon returning from Montana. She was pregnant again. She made a decision to leave her husband of a short time and go it alone. She had a good support system in the Mara. Her parents were still here visiting Sylvia and Bernard as well as her dear friend, Jane the reporter lioness. She got an unlisted phone number and began to work hard on her sculpture.

Sloane had no idea where his wife had got to. When he called Sylvia and Bernard’s house, the butler answered, telling Sloane that no one knew Caitlin’s whereabouts. He opened up the lonely home, inviting his first guests, Liz Leopard and Linda Cougar.

Stuart Simba was proving to be a hard taskmaster at Simba Brothers & Associates. He had Alexander, Sloane and Steven cracking down and working long hours. Steven went to Daniel Lyon at Lyon & Associates law firm and asked for a job with them, breaking rank with the Simba pride. Daniel invited him on board. He resigned from Simba Brothers among much consternation. One aspect he didn’t think of when he went for his new job was the fact that one of the lawyers there is Cameron Caracal, his erratic squeeze. She put him at arm’s length.

“I’m not big on interoffice romances, Steven. I think they muddy the waters. Now you are here and I think we need to cool our jets,” she advised.

“Shit!” exclaimed Steven, slapping his forehead in frustration.

Alexander Simba secretly submitted himself to the Exotic Animal Clinic for the first vasectomy ever known for a male lion. He got assurances that it could be reversed before he went under the knife, however. He didn’t want anymore offspring with Lucy Cougar Simba. She was fine after giving birth but a complete harridan during pregnancy. The couple now had three children. The household was running smoothly with all of its inhabitant’s content. Lucy kept making noises about their next litter. Alexander smiled sweetly, knowing that his wife would never be impregnated by him again.

Betty and Shane Simba made their first real public appearance since the election. The occasion was the opening night of The Nutcracker Ballet held in the Catherine Cheetah Simba Memorial Auditorium, the recent addition to the Lawrence Leoparde Memorial Center for the Arts. Much water had flowed beneath the bridge since there had been the sad circumstances to name this auditorium for the late wife of Shane Simba. Now the young president-elect for Kenya looked marvelously happy with his new wife at his side. The theater was sold out that first evening as the curtains rose on the Christmas ballet danced by Chelsea Cheetah Cougar and her male partner, Jean Pierre de Leon. It was a fun filled evening. Later we went to a reception in our new banquet room. It was beautifully provided by Rhonda Rhino who still has her catering service.

Shane and Betty at the Nutcracker ballet.....

Chloe Cougar Simba had still not returned from Montana. She sent messages to her husband and children of her impending arrival which seemed not to come to pass. Little is known of her small cub’s, Tarek and Lucretia, reaction to their mother’s absence. But it was a certainty that her husband, Roy Lee Simba, and her two older children never missed a lick due to her absence. Lee and Troy happily attended all the parties the young set gave and Roy Lee was absorbed in his affair with Janice Jaguar. Since Roy Lee is a gregarious and loving daddy, it is doubtful that the younger children missed their unpredictable mom. His new and very lush home on Leoparde Drive rocked with the various social shindigs of his children and him.

“We want to see you settled happily before we go,” said Carl Cougar to his daughter, Caitlin. “We want to buy you the house that is going up for sale next door to Uncle Bernard.”

The one he referred to was the home of Christine Cheetah Mbube who was pregnant with her new husband’s litter. Knowing that Betty and Shane had to move to the State Mansion after the inauguration that would take place shortly, Micah rented Betty and Shane’s gorgeous home a few doors down the street.

“Oh, Dad, that’s too much house for me,” protested Caitlin. “I’ll be fine where I am.”

But Caitlin Cougar Simba was something of a daddy’s girl. She finally realized the wisdom of living next door to her Uncle Bernard and Aunt Sylvia. It would probably be a good thing due to her pregnancy which she would go alone. Two days later she headed for Lyon & Associates law firm and filed for divorce from Sloane Simba. Her lawyer was the ferocious Cameron Caracal who was dying, after Caitlin’s description, to go after Sloane Simba and toss his balls in the Mara River.

“Shane, you will need a place once you take office, to kick back and relax. What would you like to have for that home?” asked Betty, while they enjoyed sundowners on their veranda.

“I sold my beach home and the one on State House Road. I bought some land in the savanna. I think it would be a good idea if we build out there. I can arrange for it to have plenty of security. Unlike Mombasa, it’s very near the State House where I can come if needed for a state emergency. As for the beach, your home is still perfect for when we go there.”

Nat Cougar designed a large home with walled security and a helicopter pad. The plans were turned over to Lewis Lyon, Inc. to be constructed. It was not too far from the Mara River and contained trees of the most beauteous varieties in Africa.

Betty and her oldest son, Arlon Lyon, got some one-on-one time. His leave taking for university studies in England is very near. They went to Croc’s Bar & Grill to have dinner. Shane was still in Nairobi after a day of addressing parliament. The Mara River was moonlit and lovely as Betty and her son had drinks on the deck. Arlon had a beer and Betty a martini.

“Mom, I think I can go away to school knowing you are one happy camper,” he laughed.

“Oh, Arlon, I have never been happier in my entire life,” she bubbled. “I still have to give myself multiple pinches throughout the day and just hope I won’t wake up and find I’m not married to Shane and that it was all only a beautiful dream.”

“No, Mom, it’s no dream. I think it’s will change some when he takes over Granddad’s office but it will still be good.”

“I am so proud of you, Arlon. You have grown into such a fine young lion. You are very wise and kind like your dad and granddad.”

They had a supper where Arlon ingested eight steaks while Betty looked on laughing. They went home to find Shane already there and sitting by the fire in the library.

Janice Jaguar worked nights creating a special wardrobe for Betty’s take over as first lady of Kenya. She was designing the inaugural outfit as well as the one for the ball which would take place in Nairobi in its first stage and another to be held in the Civic Building in the Masai Mara. Later she would join Roy Lee at his home where they would watch a movie in his screening room and play with his youngest cubs. Their daughter’s Leah and Stella would join them often. Ashley Lyon, Leah’s husband and Daniel Lyon, Stella’s beau, would come to enjoy the screening of one of Roy Lee’s movies or one he had on video. It was a wonderful time for Roy Lee and his ex-wife. Roy Lee prayed for an extension to Chloe’s stay in Montana.

Lyon & Associates brought a divorce suit against Sloane Simba on Caitlin’s behalf. She asked for nothing at all. Sloane was perplexed and very unhappy. He had no idea where Caitlin lived since she had left the house they had built on the Mombasa Road. He wanted to see her very badly. Despite his propensity for threesomes and over indulgent sexual antics, he was very fond of his wife. When he asked Cameron Caracal, Caitlin’s lawyer, to tell him where Caitlin was living, he felt lucky that that the small fierce cat didn’t claw his eyes from their very sockets so irate was she at this request.

“Caitlin does not want you to know, Mr. Simba. You are a disgraceful animal,” hissed Cameron as Sloane hastily backed from her office.

“Don’t you go with that damn caracal that works for your new firm?” he asked Steven, his brother.

“She’s giving me the cold shoulder since I came to work for Lyon & Associates,” answered Steven Simba. “She doesn’t approve of fraternization in the office.”

“What the fuck DOES she approve of?” growled Sloane.

Christmas Eve found Lachlan and me dining with Bertram Baboon and Chad Cheetah at Bertram’s home. It found Janice Jaguar at the home of Roy Lee Simba and his children. They were going to dine with Ashley Lyon and their daughter Leah taking Roy Lee’s youngest cubs. The phone rang while they were having drinks on his veranda. The houseboy brought the phone. It was Chloe.

“Merry Christmas, Chlo,” roared Roy Lee. “I guess you won’t make it here.”

“Roy, I want a divorce. I am in love with another guy. I’m staying in Montana with him. Give the kids my love.”

“Chloe, what about the kids? I’m not letting them go on some wild goose chase to Montana to join you and your lover. I’ll let you see them when they’re older or when you come here. As for Troy and Lee, they’re older enough to make their own choices. And, Chlo, I get the houses in Mombasa and here.”

“Sure you do, I don’t want those houses. Oh, I can’t take the kids here. I’m going to be a ski instructor too, like my lover. Merry Christmas to all……” she giggled.

“And to all a goodnight,” said Roy Lee, giving the phone to the servant.

“Too bad there isn’t a jeweler open tonight, Jan, my love. We’d get a ring for you. Chlo wants a divorce. She doesn’t want the kids. I am a happy male this night.”

Janice was delighted as well, but grieved for the children that were losing their mother. They took Tarek and Lucretia to Ashley and Leah’s. High spirits prevailed in the house of Leah and Ashley Lyon that evening. Daniel and Stella arrived to greet the good news. Leah and Stella jumped up and down like young cubs at the news that their parents would finally be reunited after all these years.

Betty, Shane, Arlon, Staci and Sean sat in the library. The children were allowed some lightly laced eggnog. Betty and Shane drank Scotch. Arlon had become a beer drinker on the eve of his university studies.

“Daddy, don’t you think Betty’s inaugural ball dress ought to be made of an African print?” asked Staci.

“No.”

“Why not, Daddy? She’ll be an African first lady now?”

“She can save the African prints for special times when she goes across Kenya with me.”

“Oh phooey, you’re no fun,” giggled Staci, rather high on the eggnog’s contents.