"Alex, I know you must weary of only animal company all the time. If you want to take a break and see your human friends and family sometimes, believe me it will be fine with me."

Shane was kicking back in the library of the mansion after work. He looked at his wife who poured another Scotch from the silver encased crystal canister and gave it to him.

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Luv?"

"No, the opposite, darling - I am trying to hold on to you."

She snuggled into his shoulder.

"Shane, your friends are mine as well as your family. I simply adore Bernice Bear and Maurice Monkee. I have no human friends anywhere that mean any more to me than those two. As for family, Luv, you are it and all I need plus our children and I am including yours as well as ours."

"You are remarkable, Alex. I can hardly believe you at times."

"Luv, don't put me on too steep a pedestal," she giggled. "I have a way of falling on my arse."

"I hardly think that’s possible."

Shane Simba had never known a time when he had been this content. Through problematical love affairs and volatile marriages, he had grappled with, been mired in and at times come unraveled during his adult years. Now with his human wife, he had found a peaceful place both within and outside of himself. Not only was Alexandra Delamere Simba a woman of great beauty, she also seemed totally adept at running the office of First Lady of Kenya. She was completely innovative and efficient. Now, as a mother to his newly born children she was proving to be her same caring and efficient self.

"You can do me a huge favor tomorrow, Luv?" she stated, breaking his state of reverie.

"What would that be, darling?"

"I have a group of females coming to a tea on the lawn tomorrow. They are members of the different clubs that have volunteered to be trained for tours of the mansion and State House. It will be our first docent program. Could you make a brief appearance? Bernice swears you are the main attraction for them."

"I will be there with bells on, Alex. Just give Maurice a reminder tomorrow morning."

"I will, Luv, just go easy with the bells," she laughed.

When Sloane Simba arrived at Sister Leonine’s cottage in the savanna, he found the lioness nun in her garden.

"Sister Leonine, I've brought some more of Georgy’s things," he told her, placing the two medium suitcases on the small patio.

"Mr. Simba, Leonine is much too complicated to call me. The students and others at St. Mary’s call me Sister Leo. I will be glad for you to call me that too. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"I would love a cup, Sister and as for names, please call me Sloane. Mr. Simba is far too formal."

The lioness rang a small bell on the patio table. A young native boy emerged from the back door of the cottage.

"This is Makena," introduced the lioness placing a paw on the boy’s shoulder. "Makena is Kikuyu and his family allow me to rent this cottage on their land. Will you please bring Mr. Simba and me some hot tea?"

"Yes, Sister," said the lad, heading for the back door.

"Is Georgy here?" inquired Sloane.

"Yes, she is inside working on an essay for her English class, shall I call her?"

"No, don't disturb her. I will see her this weekend when I come for her. I am taking her to her grandmother’s on Saturday night. I’m interested, Sister Leo, I've never seen a lioness who is a nun before you."

"I am from a very backward pride in the Tsavo district. I was a student at St. Mary’s as a youngster. I had gotten into a bit of trouble, myself. The nuns turned my life around and I found the Lord, Jesus Christ. I wanted to become a nun. I walked a long, hard road to get here. There had never been an animal, much less a lioness, accepted as a bride of Christ before this. The order kept me as a novice until I had proved myself worthy of being a full nun. But I made it and now am head of the school."

"That’s a remarkable story, Sister Leo. How is my daughter doing with you?"

"I imagine she may be a bit bored but things are going well. I believe it will be a good thing to allow Georgy to continue her modeling career. It is not full time and she is a beautiful young cat. I don't believe in harshly punishing our young. I feel it is best to allow them options to turn their lives in the right direction."

The lion father and lioness nun sat drinking tea until the sun began its journey behind the hills to the west. Sloane was mesmerized by this lioness who not only seemed totally at peace with herself but spread that special glow to those around her. As Sloane was leaving, Sister Leo walking him to his car, he noticed three bicycles propped against the wall of a shed which housed an aging Chevrolet van.

"Do you ride, Sister?" he asked, indicating the bikes.

"Yes, in fact Georgy and Makena ride with me on occasion. Would you like to accompany us sometimes, Sloane? We take a picnic basket at times and set up tea and shortbread under an acacia."

"I would enjoy that," he chuckled, a vision of himself astride a bike.

    An assembly of females of various species were milling about the lawn of the State House. There, a long table set with linen cloth, a silver samovar and trays of canapés to accompany it, was being assaulted by the volunteers. Alexandra and Bernice Bear were making the volunteers feel at home and explaining the duration of their training sessions when a collective sigh was heard among the assembled. Alexandra and Bernice looked to find the cause and saw Shane had joined the group. Shane Simba is much more profoundly elegant and impressive in person than even in photographs of him. With his height, muscular build, beautifully groomed mane wafting the scent of Dolce & Gabanna, intense eyes the color of the sea plus his impeccable attire, he is something to sigh about. Our lion president is also capable of charming the birds out of the trees which he accomplished in the case of Vonda Vulture and Cornelia Crested Crane. Even those who had been opposed to big cats fell under his spell as he worked his way among the group, thanking them for participating in this program. Those who were already enthralled, such as Kay Kudu, almost succumbed to the vapors.

    The tea ended two hours later with a promise made by Bernice Bear that Kay Kudu could be one of the docents heading tours of the State House where she (and Kay didn’t really mention this) could be in close proximity to her favorite eye candy - Shane Simba. In fact, quite a few of the ladies requested the State House and there was a bit of disappointment on the faces of those who were assigned the mansion.

Bitsy Black Mamba (above) and Cora Cobra (below)

    Jack Tarzan waited until everyone had finished dinner before he spoke with Betty Chimpo about a matter rather disturbing to the lion writer. They were on the porch alone, the cubs in their rooms and old Patsy also retired for the night.

"Betty, why did you go to Shane Simba and tell him that you wanted me to adopt Solly?"

"Uh, Jack...what?" she asked, hoping to come up with an answer to the question she didn’t think anyone would ask.

"Shane asked Solly if he wanted to be adopted by me last weekend. He told Solly you had come to his office and requested it. Apparently he was feeling out his son to see if Solly really wanted to be adopted."

Jack’s eyes were troubled, his voice brittle.

"Yes, but I didn’t say you wanted such, Jack. I merely thought it would make Solly happy."

Betty lit a cigarette with trembling hands.

"And Jalil and Tarek? What about them, Betty? I love all three of the cubs who live under my roof. I hope you didn’t create the impression that I only cared for Solly. And what, pray tell, was your reasoning for going to him without discussing it with me first, Betty? If I was to adopt another lion’s cubs, don't you think I should have been consulted first? In fact, I have no intention of adopting another lion’s cubs unless they mistreat them or are dead. Those are Shane Simba’s boys, Betty, and he has been a good father to them."

"Oh, Shane always makes so much of Alexandra and his new kids, I thought you could adopt Solly and make him feel better," was her entirely flimsy and implausible excuse.

"That statement is rife with jealousy. Betty, I love you and your children and want you in my life but if you are still hankering after Shane, I want no part of it. Solly is perfectly happy with the current situation and you know that. The only reason you could have for going to Shane with that bit of silliness was a bout of jealousy because of his new family."

"Oh, Jack, don't be silly. It was a legitimate request. I was thinking of Solly....and you. I know you two love each other."

"Bullshit, Betty. It was for your own reasons and those are highly suspect."

He slept in a guest room that night. Betty tossed and turned and got little sleep. She had made a major booboo in going to Shane. She would have to make it up to Jack.

It was late Friday afternoon and the first family was heading for Mombasa in a small aircraft.

"You would have been proud of me today, Luv," giggled Alexandra Simba.
 

"I’m always proud of you, my darling," announced Shane, placing his new daughter, Tanya, on his lap and bouncing her with a fast leg motion. "What did you do that was so special?"

"I didn’t wince when faced with two snake ladies who were volunteering."

"That would be Michelle Mamba?" he asked. "I saw her at the tea."

"Yes, and her friend, Bipsy Black Mamba. I was always told to keep my distance from those types and run like hell, hoping I could out distance them."

My brother, Chris, used to live next door to Michelle and her husband. He went to dinner at their home one evening. Michelle, he says, makes a cheese cake to die for," laughed Shane. "She also brought one to Catherine and me when we lived on Lyon Avenue."

"Both ladies were quite charming and their hats were spectacular. Peggy Python was a hoot, I laughed my arse off at her funny stories. They are members of the Ladies Serpentine Guild," reported Alexandra.

"You are doing amazing things as first lady, Alex. Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?"

"I believe you have but brag some more. I simply thrive on it, Luv. How am I in the wife department?" she giggled, lighting a cigarette.

"Cannot be beat," he laughed.

    That weekend, the family wind sailed, boated and went about the myriad water sports they both enjoyed. Solly, Jalil and Tarek sailed with Shane and Alexandra to a the outer banks of Lamu Island. Staci joined them on Saturday morning, flying her own plane from the Serengeti.

       '

Alexandra displays her post baby figure in the ocean......Shane and Alexandra in their home on Lamu Island.....

Shane and Alex admire their new daughter, Tanya Simba........their home on Lamu Island off Kenya's coast.....

"Why will you be late, Sloane?" asked an irate Caroline Cheetah Simba at the news that her husband wouldn't arrive home at his usual hour.

Caroline was exasperated, having two cubs with colds. Sunny had missed school that day, sneezing and coughing the entire time. Cindy was also consumed with cold symptoms.

"I’m going bike riding with Sister Leo and Georgy," he reported.

"Oh dear god, Sloane, don't be absurd. Cindy and Sunny need some more cough syrup and I am craving a bit of companionship other than sick kids," groaned Caroline. "I would appreciate it if you would lay off the sports event and come straight home. I’m sure your lion ass will break down any bicycle you attempt to ride."

"I promised Georgy, Caroline. I’m not going to let her down."

"Shit!" growled Caroline, slamming down the phone.