DISCLOSURE
Be naughty - save Santa a trip.
Author Unknown
Juma Mnyama and Staci Simba had made love in his home and were leaving to get a bite at Klip ‘n Dodi’s when flash bulbs popped in their faces. Juma tried to shield the President’s daughter from the cameras but didn’t succeed. The late hour told its own story. The paparazzi had struck a very desirable target. Two days later, the photographs were splashed across the Kenya Post and the ANIMAL ENQUIRER, with headlines suggesting the two were lovers.
Juma and Staci caught by the paparazzi....
Shane Simba called his oldest daughter to meet with him at the bush house. She arrived to find him alone except for the staff and sitting in the den with a drink in paw.
“Sit down, Staci and have a drink with me,” he offered.
A glass of wine, she told the houseboy.
“I guess you saw the newspapers, Daddy?”
“Yes, but I’m not here to scold you, honeybunch. If you are having an affair with Mnyama, I want you to keep a cool head and get some method of birth control.”
“I’m on the pill.”
At the thought of his pristine daughter already practicing birth control, Shane shuddered slightly. Knowing that he had not set the best example where sexual antics were concerned, he managed to curb his distaste.
“Staci, you are very close to my heart and I think you know this. You and I clung to each other when your mother died and I will never forget how you saved my sanity. It is because I love you so much that I want to caution you about this. Don’t follow my example. Just be wise and practice safe sex. Of course, if you need to talk, I’m always here.”
“I will, Daddy. Please don’t worry about me. I know where I want to go with my life and I won’t be deterred by sex or other things.”
“And always be aware of the paparazzi, honeybunch. They are a cunning horde.”
When Shane returned to the mansion that evening, Betty, frustrated and uncomfortable from harboring twins, accosted him.
“I see in the paper that Staci is taking after you with her sex drive,” she smirked.
His eyes flared in a burst of fury. “Betty do not ever say anything to me about my daughter. She is far superior to both of us,” he roared.
Kenya is to host the United Nations conference on oil and gas. It will be held in Nairobi with the guests being booked between the Fairview, an elegant hotel which having been bought by the Simba pride, has been renamed the Fairview Simba. President Shane Simba will open the conference, with key speakers including Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi as well as United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Secretary General Dr S. Panitchpakdi.
Luke Leoparde, having read the spread about Staci in the newspapers, was unsettled. He knew she worked with Juma Mnyama and hoped to hell she wasn’t sleeping with him too. However, he decided to keep his counsel and not mention it at their flight lesson which was slated for tomorrow.
Our retired President on his veranda.......
Ralph Lyon was sitting on his front veranda with his feet on the railing when his granddaughter, Imani Lyon, drove up in the SUV that had been his birthday gift to her.
“Hi Grandpapa Lyon,” she said gaily as she bounced up the steps toward him.
Ralph stared at her. “Where are your spots?”
“They’ve started disappearing, Grandpapa. I’m gorgeous and sexy now.”
“What a pity. I rather liked them Imani. You looked so much like your pretty grandmother, Janice.”
Mildred, hearing her husband’s remark to their granddaughter, opened the screen door and accosted the former president.
“Why Ralph that is a terrible thing to say to Imani. She looks so lovely now. Just like her beautiful mother, Leah.”
Mildred held the young cub tightly in a hug.
“I liked the damn spots, myself,” he insisted.
“What are your plans for your first anniversary?” I asked Shane
Simba, with great unease.
Lachlan had warned me not to go there but now I had dared. He was sitting behind his desk and his eyes momentarily flattened and he looked dismayed before doing a hasty recoup.
“Thank goodness you reminded me, Maury. You’re an experienced ex-caterer. What would you recommend?”
“I believe if you could pull off something at the bush house, I would be glad to make the arrangements for you.”
“Wonderful idea!” he said, glancing at his calendar to catch the exact day.
“Betty tells me she doesn’t go there much anymore with her advancing pregnancy. I will call the caterers and get out the invitation list together for you. Bernice (Bear) will send them out.”
“What would I do without you, Maury? I am sure Ralph said that to you many times.”
He had managed to retain his graciousness. All in all, Shane Simba is an incredible animal and has always treated me with the greatest kindness and respect.
Lachlan and I attended the opening of A Streetcar Named Desire at the arts center. It was outstanding – marvelous performances by Micah Mbube and Chloe Cougar. At the cocktail dinner following the performance, we noticed a very exuberant Chloe Cougar who was singing her own praises and telling everyone in hearing distance that Roy Lee and Bertram Baboon had decided to make a film of the production and star her. Choe had managed to rope in Simon Simba as her escort for the dinner. I noticed that Sylvia and Bernard Cougar left early. The very gentle and always kind Bernard has a low tolerance level for his raucous daughter.
The former Vice President of Kenya, Bernard Cougar, at his home in Mombasa...
Land disputes and cattle raids broke out in the Mt. Elgon district, causing Shane to go there for at least a week, conferring with the residents as to how to settle these troublesome arguments. Several farmers had been ousted almost bodily from their lands and were complaining bitterly. Cattle rustlers were coming across the Ugandan border and returning with part of the livelihood of the ranchers. Jane was happy to cover the story. She flew with Luke to the region, taking the cubs. She joined Shane at their Mt. Elgon retreat.
I went to Shane and Betty’s bush house the day of the anniversary party. Rhonda Rhino was there stomping about ordering her minions in the details of the preparations. I had hired Rhonda as the caterer. Extra staff had been brought from the mansion. The heavily pregnant Betty still had no clue as to the surprise bash her husband had planned with my very timely reminder. Rhonda noticed my nervousness. She asked as to its origins.
“Shane is in Mt. Elgon clearing up land disputes and cattle rustling. I just hope he makes it here for the party,” said I.
“Well, if he doesn’t, Betty will still know he loves her very much and planned the party,” she chortled.
Little did she know – as a matter of fact I was still in the dark about the Mt. Elgon lover’s retreat. Had I known details of that, I am sure I would have been a wreck.
However, he did make it for the party. His helicopter landed on the bush house pad at 9:00 pm. He greeted his guest, gave his wife a big hug and a kiss and went to the bar. There he spotted his daughter, Staci, who had brought as her guest, Juma Mnyama. I was standing beside him when Staci approached with Juma.
“Daddy, you have already met Juma," said the lovely Staci who was gowned exquisitely.
I had to hand it to Shane. He never blinked an eyelash as he beheld his daughter’s lover. His face was composed.
“Yes, the good doctor does a fine service for Kenya,” he said.
“Thank you, Mr. President. I have the best assistant in the world in your beautiful daughter,” responded the lion AIDS doctor.
I looked to Shane because I thought that Juma’s answer was rather cheeky in light of the fact that it had been ballyhooed in newspapers about their surmised affair. Once again, the other lion’s expression was impassive.
Ralph and Mildred Lyon attended. I found Ralph in the small parlor removing his tie.
“I hate these bloody fancy suits and ties, Maury” he roared in dismay.
Ralph’s post presidential retirement clothing was casual to say the least. He had returned to sloppy and comfortable attire. I had once had such a difficult time in turning him toward sartorial splendor once he was the president. He had become a fashion plate – an unhappy one at that. Once the presidency no longer rested on his shoulders, he had happily returned to his favored garb.
Betty and Shane were in their bush house bedroom after the party had wound down, the revelers going their intoxicated and merry ways. It had been a wonderful soiree with exquisite food and drink. Betty had removed her clothes and donned a peignoir.
“Fifi, I have to return to Kitale tonight. The disputes are still raging. I have a meeting of the elders at 6:00 am.”
She sat heavily on the bed.
“Well, I suppose I should just be grateful that you remembered our anniversary and gave a party. I know it is not your anniversary of choice. When is yours with the lioness?”
“Don’t go there, Betty. We’ve had a nice evening with many friends and family present,” he warned.
“Oh, yes, don’t remind you of the fact that you have two families. In the Muslim world a husband is supposed to be impartial to all his wives. He is supposed to treat them equally.”
“I only have ONE wife, Betty!” his voice was cold with irritation and suppressed fury.
“Oh, quite right, you’re not a Muslim. Ever thought of becoming one, Shane?”
On the night of her first anniversary, Betty didn’t get but one kiss from her hubby. That was the one he gave her upon entering the party. There were none to bid her goodnight or goodbye. She listened as the engines tuned and the helicopter lifted from its pad on the first leg of Shane’s return to Jane.
Staci and Luke Leoparde bumped across a cloud bank. She was at the wheel and he was in the co-pilot’s seat in the small Cessna.
“I read where Juma Mnyama was your date at your dad’s anniversary party,” he said, wishing he had bitten his tongue instead.
“Did you think I could take you, silly?” she giggled. “You’re married.”
“True,” he agreed laughing and giving one pert breast a quick squeeze