CONSEQUENCES
"The lusts and greeds of the body scandalize the Soul; but it has to come to heel."
Logan Pearsall Smith Afterthoughts, 1931
Bertram Baboon, Gloria (her sister and Bertram’s wife) along with me are in a state of sheer tizzy concerning Betty Chimpo Tarzan. She was as up as an animal can be at one point, being newly married to Jack Tarzan and pregnant with his cub by the French Procedure. In a very short span of time she has managed to be found out having a very heavy affair with her ex-stepson, Sean Simba. The holiday season has been rather diminished for those caring about Betty. She first went to her old abode on Leoparde Drive when Jack asked her to leave his home. There a bewildered and horrified Wilda Wildebeest met her old and dear friend, trying to bolster the stricken chimpanzee. Two nights later, Wilda called me, saying that Betty was having premature labor pains. Lachlan accompanied Wilda, Betty and me to Tigeres-Lyon Clinic where Betty had a miscarriage. Jack Tarzan paid a brief visit to the bedside of his estranged wife but left before too long. My heart was heavy for him. Gloria took Betty from the clinic to Gloria’s home. The confused Betty called one of her ex-husbands, Montecore the white tiger. He sent his limousine for her. Betty’s plight has certainly drained some of my Christmas spirit. However, Lachlan tells me that this is a foolish reaction.
“Betty will rise again to play another day,” states Lachlan with small sympathy.
Lucy Cougar makes
coffee with Sloane Simba in the Ashley Lyon's kitchen.....
Ashley and Staci (Simba) Lyon held a very casual and fun Christmas affair at their new home in the bush. Lachlan and I were invited. Among their other guests were Leah Simba (Ashley’s second wife) and a dejected Jack Tarzan. Mingling among the Christmas trees stacked with packages at the base, were also Sloane Simba and his squeeze, Lucy Cougar (Ashley’s third wife). Leah, who had a few dates with Jack Tarzan before he committed to Betty, was there without a date. Lion Lion, her architect squeeze, was in Tanzania on a Lewis Lyon project.
“Jack, I am so sorry you have been so thoroughly shit on,” was the first sentence Leah said to Jack as they stood in a quiet corner with fresh drinks.
“I should have known, Leah. I was warned often enough. However, no more needs to be said. Betty is probably in her own brand of hell and she did point the way to a new life for me. I owe her a great deal.”
“You are an outstanding chap; you would have found your own way sooner than later, Jack.”
“How have you been, Leah? Liking the designing business? I run across material about you all the time at the Daily.”
“I love the fashion business - my mom’s legacy. I never knew I would but I have absolutely fallen in love with the whole kit and caboodle of marketing and clothing design. I also have great help in my new partner, Duke.”
“That’s good to know, Leah. I wish you the very best. You are a beautiful female and a caring one too.”
“Jack, can we see each other again or is it too soon for you?” asked Leah, a lump in her throat and a slight fear that he would reject this idea.
“I thought you had a bloke, Leah….some lion architect?”
“We are sort of a duo but there is no commitment. I am very busy and he is too. I sort of fancied you, Jack,” she admitted.
Suddenly she grabbed his arm and said, “Oh don’t worry. I wouldn’t come on like gangbusters. I know you have been badly hurt.”
“The heartbreak is in the loss of the cub. As for Betty, I think I am stunned enough about Sean Simba to be well over her - how about dinner tomorrow night?”
“I would love that, Jack.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight sharp at your house,” he said, placing a hand on hers.
They were interrupted by Staci telling them that orders were being taken for barbecuing their entrees. Wally Warthog’s catering minions were at the grills taking instructions for rare, medium or well done.
Juma Mnyama was standing at the packed bar at Simba’s Bistro when two females pushed their way to the edge and nudged him aside, stepping on his polished loafer.
“If you would refrain from stepping on my foot, I would be much appreciative, Miss, “said Juma in a soft growl.
The guilty female turned her face to his great height. Her eyes were astounding – green with tiny flecks of blue, drop-dead gorgeous and dilated at the sight of the handsome lion doctor.
“Gosh, I’m sorry…uh,” apologized Georgy Simba.
Her luminous eyes widened further. Cats are on familiar terms with these physical signals in each other. It usually bodes well for a first-rate and sexy evening.
“My name is Juma Mnyama and I believe I have seen you on a billboard or two.”
“Georgy Simba,” purred Georgy offering a beautifully groomed hand.
“What are you doing with him, Georgy? He’s Mom’s old squeeze,” snarled Imani Lyon in her cousin’s ear.
Juma cast bored tawny eyes in Imani’s direction and said, “Georgy, let’s go somewhere a bit on the quiet side - like Klip ‘n Dodi’s. We can eat under the stars there. The night is clear with no hint of rain.”
“Oh, yes, let’s do that,” she breathed, taking his proffered arm and tossing a sassy look back at the dyspeptic Imani. .
Juma and Georgy meet at Simba's Bristro......
Montecore in his former life with Siegfried and Roy.....
Betty, in spite of Montecore’s efforts, was in a state of distress. She was in the white tiger’s luxurious living area above his immense disco. She sat before the mirror and pulled fingers through her long hair. She had not wanted to face anyone since Jack had asked her to leave his home. She knew that he had filed for divorce after she lost their cub. Occasionally she dabbed her tear wet face with a hankie and sniffled. Her cell phone rang and she read the caller ID. She answered immediately.
“Sean, how have you been?” she asked, joy catching on a sob in her voice.
“Missing you, Betty – I’m sorry we got our pictures plastered everywhere. We should have just stayed inside the whole time. Where are you?”
“I’m staying with my first husband, Montecore. He lives above his disco. I lost my cub. I’ve just been in hiding since then.”
There was silence on the other end and she thought she had lost him or the connection at any rate. She breathed again when he finally spoke.
“Betty, stop hiding. I’ll come and get you there. We’ll figure something out.”
She immediately went to the marble stall and lathered herself in Montecore’s pricy guest soap. She stepped from the shower feeling more alive than she had in ages. She sang to herself as she dressed and blew her hair dry.
The Shane Simba's arrive during the holidays...
Shane and his wife, Alexandra, despite the scandal involving Sean and Betty, proceeded with some merry goings on. This was Shane and his beloved wife’s first Christmas together. They had two adorable half-lion human tots who became more endearing with each passing day. Jalil and Tarek, Shane’s twins by Betty, were now ensconced in their father’s jolly home. They simply adored Alexandra as she did them. Solly Simba was allowed weekly visits to Jack Tarzan, in spite of the fact that Jack had filed for divorce from Betty. Tarek and Jalil would phone their former stepfather and regale him with their activities also visiting him regularly. The first couple planned five days in England for Christmas but before that, they enjoyed regular soirees with the Simba pride and Shane’s daughter, Staci, who was now married to Ashley Lyon and expecting her first litter. Sean Simba had not dared to enter his father’s home since his spread with Betty in the ANIMAL ENQUIRER. Although he was highly visible in everyone’s thoughts, he was not a component physically.
Sean Simba, high profile oldest son of Shane Simba.....
Sean Simba had been summoned from his school in Johannesburg, South Africa to play soccer and ultimately pro-football for Kenya. He had been given a great deal of money up front for the Masai Mara All Stars Soccer team and then signed to Lewis Lyon’s planned Kenya Lions. As the son of the sitting president, sexy and buff and looking like his devastatingly charismatic father, he was a big deal in Kenya and elsewhere. He was the son of Catherine Cheetah Simba who had been killed in an automobile accident that had also taken his unborn siblings. He was also Shane Simba’s gorgeous offspring. As such he was on the top of the heap when it came to privilege. He decided, either rightly or otherwise, that he had a bead on the good life and as such he wanted to pursue the only female figure that had offered comfort and succor to the young son of Shane who had lost his mother far too early. He arrived at Montecore’s, an essentially gay nightclub, to the delight of many. He was dressed to the nines in the latest male fashion and scented with the most expensive fragrances available to animal and man. Heads swiveled as he walked in the door of Montecore’s. He approached the white tiger that had Betty sitting by his side on a suede sofa.
The lights were dimmed in Sean’s rented house on Leoparde Drive. He drew Betty inside and kissed her. Troy Simba, his cousin and housemate, was not there.
“Betty, we’re on our own, what do you think of that?” he asked, kissing her neck and face.
“I almost can’t breathe at that thought, Sean. What does it all mean?”
He raised her skirt and pushed his hand into her silk pants. She moaned.
“I think I need to get another place to live, don’t you?”
“This is rather too high profile….Leoparde Drive and all that good stuff,” she answered, stroking fingers though his rich mane.
“I have tons of money now, Betty. I can do what I want.”
“I also have a great deal of money. We can do what we want….together? By the way, if you have some off time, how about my place in Manhattan?”
“We can spend Christmas there, if you like. Then I have to get back for a lot of practice sessions for a major game.”
“Let’s do Manhattan.”
“Yeeees!!!”
Jack Tarzan wines and dines Leah Simba at Klip ' n Dodi's.....
Jack Tarzan picked Leah Simba from her home and drove toward Klip ‘n Dodi’s where he had reservations. It was a rainy evening but the unique restaurant was decorated warmly and rife with a holiday atmosphere. Kerri Klipspringer showed them to a booth in the new addition. Jack and Leah ordered whiskey sours and settled down for some conversation as the rain tapped softly on the tin roof above.
“Oh deah,” cried the unnerved Margaret Delamere of Wiltshire England as she digested the news that three additional offspring would be accompanying Shane Simba and her sister-in-law for their Christmas visit.
Ian Delamere looked up from his Pimms cup before the jolly, roaring fire. “What is it my deah?”
“Alexandra has added three more of that lion’s children to the tally….what to do?” asked the distraught English woman.
“Margaret, this is a gigantic estate with a plethora of servants and rooms. Why should you be in the least bit undone by that news?”
“Oh my deah, it will look like a bloody zoo around here, Ian,” she wailed.
The clouds were thick as the Kenyan Airways jumbo jet ascended and banked toward North America and New York. As a matter of courtesy, the airline officials had made private the seats held by Sean Simba and Betty Chimpo. The stewardess brought the twosome champagne. They clicked glasses before sipping. Sean held Betty’s small hand and kissed it.
“We are going to be so happy, Betty. I can’t wait to see your place in New York.
She kissed him on the tip of his nose. “You look so much like Shane.”
Suddenly he withdrew from her physically and emotionally. “Don’t ever say that again, Betty. I want you to love me for who I am not as Shane Simba’s offspring.”
“Of course, I love you in every way possible, darling,” she crooned.
He relaxed. He was young and in lust.
To the rear of the plane were four members of the paparazzi who could not wait to get a bead on the President’s son and Betty, the most outrageous of Shane Simba’s former females. They checked their camera equipment quietly, smiling to themselves. If all went well this would be a lucrative Christmas for the media.