The debutante season arrives....
“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”
Zora Neale Hurston
If one could secretly poll Betty Simba’s new confidence in her marriage, It would probably register a ninety percent increase. It seemed to her that Shane Simba has made a not so subtle shift in his treatment of her since she became pregnant with his cub due to earth shaking medical procedures. The lion president had already made a dramatic change in allowing her to become pregnant with his clone after protesting that this sort of thing was not to his liking. This complex tweaking of the natural form of conception had always been an anathema to Shane. In granting this method to his wife, he signaled a softening and dedication to his marriage and Betty. Now, since she had undergone one major surgery to attach the uterus donated by her sister and another to implant the embryo, Shane’s tenderness with his wife was manifested throughout the day in various ways. If he knew she was spending time in her office down the hall from his, he would drop in to ask how she was feeling, nuzzling his face in her hair despite who might be present. If she chose to rest and stay in the mansion, he would phone every hour or so to check. At night he would sit by her side, watching the television news or evening programs with his paw resting on her swelling abdomen as if in protection of the coming cub. His love making was gentle and beyond tender. Betty, despite some early pregnancy nausea, absolutely glows these days.
Betty and Shane in the kitchen of their bush house......
Irma Impala offered what she felt was her most appealing facial expression but in actuality was her least. She pursed her lips priggishly. She was in Mayor Leah Lyon’s office in the civic building. She had come on a mission as the recently elected president of The Prey for Safety Club, an organization that was no longer necessary in the new age in Kenya. The female members of the prey populations had not wanted to disband so the organization was nothing more than a glorified book and mucking about club these days.
“Your Honor,” began Irma, daintily wiping her lips with a lace hankie. “I am here today to request that you engage some of the big cat families in our coming debutante season. Since The Predator’s Female Guild disbanded, I don’t know where to turn. We need you big cats to become involved. My Elizabeth was the queen last year.”
“Why, Mrs. Impala, of course I’ll make some calls. Two daughters that you can count on will be my cubs, Imani and Kitty,” announced the popular Leah.
“That will be splendid. And you will phone some of the big cat families for me?” asked Irma.
“Of course I will. We all want to participate in what I believe to be a very worthwhile civic event.”
Deputy Mayor, Maude Hyena and Executive Assistant, Carolyn Cape Buffalo were both present and nodded their approval of this statement. Maude hesitated to offer any of her daughters since at least two had declared themselves lesbians and were major movers and shakers in the Mara’s Gay Pride Parade.
Irma Impala, wife of WMM-TV owner, Irving Impala......
On a second front, Beryl Bushbuck, the vice president of the same organization, was phoning the First Lady. She had been chosen for this task since Betty had a long term friendship with Beryl’s hubby, Bob, the publisher of the Masai Mara Daily, who had been her mentor and boss throughout her career as a journalist. The upshot of that conversation was Betty asking Staci Simba if she cared to become a debutante. This exchange took place in the evening over the dinner table in the mansion.
“Betty, good heavens, this debutante matter smacks of a female meat market in my estimation,” objected Shane.
“Why, darling, it is, of course, a bit of social frippery but it is not at all harmful and actually enhances a young female’s confidence level,” argued Betty.
“What am I saying as a father, if I let my daughter participate? That she is single and available to be wedded or bedded or whatever comes to mind with some male ogling her as she struts?” roared Shane. “And since when did Staci need confidence? She feels free to call me on the carpet for any discretion of mine she might perceive as well as conducting conferences on our marriage and your pregnancy.”
Staci began to giggle at this description of her self-assurance.
“Oh, Daddy, it will be fun and it’s just another civic thingy,” she chuckled.
“That’s right, darling, it is a civic matter and as president, you can’t be seen to disapprove,” added Betty.
“I will have Aunt Janice create my dresses,” gushed Staci, who had gotten into the scene with alacrity.
“Now I get the crux of the matter - new dresses for all,” groaned Shane.
Between the formidable matrons, Beryl Bushbuck and Irma Impala, even Lee Simba and Linda Cougar were inducted into the debutante scene. The next day, Lee and Staci went to JAGGERS where Janice Jaguar Simba was already in consultation with Leah as to Imani and Kitty’s finery. While there, Delilah Dik Dik arrived with her mother. The girls all had a giggling good time. Janice beckoned the staff for cherry cokes for the youngsters while she got the measurements made.
Lee Simba stood at the Watering Hole Pub bar waiting for Trey Timbo to arrive. She hadn’t made a date with him but hoped he would show up as she had learned that he often came here after a safari flight. Her uncle, Chris Simba, made an appearance before Trey.
“What are you doing in here, Lee?” he asked with alarm.
“Waiting for my lover,” was her waspish response to what she perceived as interference in a matter that was none of his business.
“And who might that be?”
“I don’t need to tell you, Uncle Chris,” she said, throwing money on the bar and walking out.
As she made her exit, Trey Timbo pulled into the parking lot in his range rover. Lee went to his car and jumped in.
“What are you doing?” roared Trey.
“We are going to your place.”
“No, we’re not,” he told her in no uncertain terms.
“Okay then, we’re going to mine.”
“You’ve got your own place? Where is it?”
“In Lyon Towers,” she said, proudly, knowing there were few residents of the Mara who could resist that address. He seemed, if not enthused, at least curious, so he drove in that direction.
Lee let them in the penthouse she now shared with her mother. Chloe was in the family room watching television when her daughter brought Trey Timbo in. Chloe said a desultory hello as Lee introduced her one-episode lover.
“Aw shit!” exclaimed Trey. “You didn’t tell me your mom was Chloe Cougar. You’re my favorite actress, Miss Cougar. I see all your movies.”
“Really?” asked an interested Chloe, putting her script away and patting the sofa next to her. She checked her elaborately done, cottony hair. Trey sat down beside her. .Chloe placed a crimson clawed paw on his thigh, sliding it toward his crotch.
“I’ll make us drinks, Trey,” said Lee, heading for the breakfast room which held a substantial bar.
Lee took some time finding the makings for her Cosmopolitan and Trey’s Scotch. She hummed to herself as she prepared their drinks on a lacquered tray, found the linen cocktail napkins and headed for the den. When she got there her mother and Trey had disappeared. She called to them with no response. She went down the hall to her mother’s bedroom door. It was closed and locked.
“Mom? Trey?” she called to no avail.
The grunts and groans of sexual shenanigans sounded from behind the door. Lee packed her bags, dragging them in the elevator and called a cab to take her to the parking lot of the Watering Hole Pub. There she got her car and went to Leoparde Drive and the mansion of her father and stepmother, Janice. Roy Lee heard her come in.
“Glad you’re back, Lee. We’ve missed you, honey,” he said, giving her a hug.
Later Janice returned from shopping with Tarek and Lucretia tagging along. After that Troy returned from soccer practice. There was a big meal in the dining room with all the jollity that household entailed since Roy Lee had remarried Janice. After dinner they showed a new movie in Roy Lee’s state of the art screening room. She sat on one of the comfortable seats with Janice’s arm around her shoulder and was glad as hell to be back. Roy Lee hadn’t mentioned the fact that Chris had given him a call telling of his meeting with Lee in the pub. One thing the Simba brothers did for each other was to monitor one another’s young when needed.
Sidney Simba was growing healthier and stronger each day, having cleaned up his drug habit. He had even stopped smoking not wanting to alter the air surrounding his beloved shrubs, plants, trees and flowers that were housed in his new domain, The Simba Garden Center. He had begun to sing softly to himself as he worked and puttered among his charges. Sales were high, Sidney being an enthusiastic promoter of his botanicals and knowledgeable to boot. Alexander Simba even joined his brother on the weekends. Alexander adored plants and helping Sidney was a way to avoid the weekend duties assigned him by his wife, Lucy Cougar Simba, who thought nothing of asking to him to chauffeur his cubs to any number of silly social events. His only pay from Sidney, at Alexander’s insistence, was a rose or two for his personal garden. The one who wasn’t thriving on this new venture was Sidney’s sad wife, Dr. Cary Caracal Simba. She manned the cash register showing no real warmth to the customers and looking absolutely miserable. Sidney finally freed her on the weekends when his brother was helping out. During those times, working together in something they both loved, the brothers commiserated with each other over their unfortunate marriages.
Trey Timbo seemed to be Chloe Cougar’s cup of tea. He performed beautifully in the boudoir. He would discuss inanities with his new squeeze until the proverbial cows came home. Chloe had met her mental and physical match. Trey Timbo was all physique, libido, heavy mane and empty spaces intellectually – a scissor fit for Chloe. Chloe had adored Sloane Simba but he had not come around in quite some time. He had also been bored by her blather about films, clothes, fads and other frivolous topics, not bothering to hide this fact. Sloane had made it plain that he had come to fuck and when that was over, he was off to the races in other arenas, barely saying goodbye as the door closed behind him. When Chloe invited Trey to move in, he saw no reason to decline. He moved his boxed collection of Captain Marvel comics and bush outfits to the penthouse. He took owed time off and he and Chloe never left the bedroom, except to order take out, for an entire week.
At the same time that Shane and Betty were enveloped in a renewal of sorts, Sloane and Caroline Cheetah were on a roll. Caroline, among her other charms, was an excellent gourmand, creating wondrous meals from her top selling cook book and television show. Sloane was growing fond of her son, Shane Simba, Jr. He felt sorry for the little cub with the high profile and ostentatious name. He took time with Shane Simba’s illegitimate son and it paid off. The small cub grew to love his surrogate father. When Sloane would bring his daughter, Georgy, for the weekend, the couple would have fun with their children. However, when Sloane would want to pop the question, Caroline would make one of her acid remarks or be shrouded in something that resembled PMS in humans. On the other paw, Sloane had his own caustic personality which came into play more often than not. So they continued on in Sloane’s bush home, making love at an ever escalating altitude, eating good food and getting embroiled with the raising of their cubs.
Roy Lee Simba, having completed most of the interior studio scenes as King Arthur, began rehearsals for Bertram Baboon’s new stage play, Superstar. Bertram, having expressed his concern as to who would direct his first theater production, was invited to do just that by Christine Cheetah Mbube, the art center’s director. Bertram was delighted. He turned over the direction of a small film noir to be produced by Baboon-Simba Studios to Gloria Chimpo who was the script's author and thrilled to direct her first film.
Staci Simba spent another weekend on a short trip for the AIDS project. She worked again with Dr. Juma Mnyama and was further aware of the fact that this was what she wanted to do. She completed her entrance examinations for the Nairobi School of Nursing with flying colors. She just had to bide her time for the rest of her senior year in Predator High before realizing her dreams of helping in the fight against AIDS in Kenya. She discussed her trips with Betty who could sense the growing respect in the young female for Dr. Mnyama. She smiled to herself and thought that her stepdaughter had found her niche early.
Lee Simba woke one morning in the home of her father where her room was glamorous and fitted to her tastes. She put her feet to the floor to be overwhelmed by a wave of nausea. She ran to the bathroom and tossed her cookies. When she fell back in the bed, she wondered at her sudden illness. Then it dawned on her that she might be pregnant from her one time sexual bout with Trey Timbo. She groaned. It was common knowledge that he was now living with her mother. Their affair had been spread in last week’s issue of ANIMAL magazine. She called Staci Simba on her cell phone asking her what she should do. Staci suggested that they go to the Exotic Animal Clinic in Lee’s car that afternoon after Staci was out of school. Staci Simba was followed by the paparazzi since she got the BMW for her birthday. Lee agreed to this idea.
Lee Simba in her bedroom at her father's home.....
Staci and Lee sat in the office of Lee’s aunt, Dr. Sylly Cougar Lyon. Sylly had taken the samples to the lab to test them for pregnancy. When she returned to the office, her expression was solemn.
“Lee, you are pregnant. What do you want to do about it?” asked Sylly.
“Aunt Sylly, I want an abortion. Will you do it? And does Dad have to find out?” wept Lee.
“No he doesn’t, Lee. You are of legal age. Do you mind telling me who the father is? I am just curious,” said Sylly.
“Trey Timbo, Mom’s new boyfriend. She took him away from me,” wailed Lee.
“That’s just as well, Lee. You’ve learned a bitter lesson. I will admit you now under a false name so the reporters won’t get wind of it. If they do, I’ll say you came in for an appendectomy.”
“Thanks so much, Aunt Sylly.”
Sylly Cougar Lyon felt sorry for her younger sister’s daughter. Chloe was not a mother to be reckoned with. The only guidance Lee had came from her father, Roy Lee, even though the superstar had a full plate running a successful film studio. She was glad Lee had her level headed cousin, Staci Simba, as a best friend.