You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.

"I don’t know how we got here from where we were and so in love before this thing happened to Kenya," bemoaned Alexandra Simba.

"I know, Alex, we just have to bring what we had alive again. I know that I love you very much. I don’t know what happened to me while all of that bloodshed was going down. It seems to have rent a hole in my psyche or something."

She put her arms around his neck and kissed his face. He held her tightly to him.

"Alex, my Alex," he moaned into her sun streaked hair. "I do love you so."

"I love you too, Shane….I always will."

    A party at the Civic Center honoring the newly elected parliament members took place in the Mara. The affair glittered with fine dress, expensive drink and foods catered by - whom else – Lachlan’s restaurant, TSAVO. The most amazing thing about the evening was the first couple, Shane and Alexandra Simba. They simply glowed with renewed affection and happiness. Their old sexuality could be seen as they danced sensuously together. They were in sync all evening, holding hands while sharing conversation with others or engaged in intimate tête-à-têtes while seated. Their former flame renewed, they could barely take their eyes off each other. I was glad to see it happen as were others who cared about both.

    Cutty Sark drove with me to the soiree. Lachlan had to be there early to oversee his catering personnel. Betty Chimpo arrived with her sister, Gloria and her husband, Bertram Baboon. I ran into Lachlan’s brother who was squiring Chloe Cougar. The glitterati were all present. The A-list of animals, including Charlotte Elephanti and her consort, Cappie Cape Buffalo were in attendance, the great elephant matriarch beaming upon the obviously loving Alexandra and Shane. Later, I saw Betty dancing with her first husband, Montecore. She left with him. A restrained Dickey Simba, looking elegant, stayed for about an hour and slipped out without ado.

Dorian and Cynthia Cheetah at the bash...                Shane and Alexandra Simba dance at the dinner for Parliament....

    It seems that the Cheetah family is the group to chat about for the moment. The Reverend Calvin Cheetah preached his first major sermon to a packed congregation and a grandcub returned to the Mara and made an immediate splash. This is Tara Simba, the daughter of the happily and long married Chief Magistrate of Kenya, Sefu Simba and his wife, Cassandra (Cheetah) Simba. Tara’s original intent was to become a history instructor at Kenya University in the Mara but other things got in the way of her original intent – such as her marvelous looks inherited from both parents. Like her double first cousin, Staci Simba, she has the face of her cheetah mother but the tawny, solid colored body of her lion father. However, she has even longer legs than Staci and caught the eye of another first cousin, Leah Simba Tarzan, owner of JAGGERS.

"Puleeze, try modeling," begged Leah, who had two bassinets containing her newborns in her office at JAGGERS, the fashion emporium created by her mom, Janice Jaguar Simba.

Tara complied, much to the delight of Leah’s partner, Duke the lion designer, and strutted her way into swift celebrity. Her long legs got the model’s exaggerated walk down pat; her face was a photographer’s dream. Lachlan’s brother, Rory, who had been dragged to the showing by his current lover, Chloe Cougar, took one look at the gorgeous lioness-cheetah mix and muttered a low, "Holy Shit."

"What did you say, Sweetie?" asked Chloe who had not gotten the drift of her boyfriend’s excitement.

"Nothing….absolutely nothing, Chloe."

the beautiful newcomer to the runways, Tara Simba....

"Is wonder boy back with his wife?" asked Wilda Wildebeest of her dear friend and sometimes house mate, Betty Chimpo.

"You must be referring to Shane, Willie," laughed Betty.

"Who the hell else would I be referring to, Betts? Montecore has been here twice but no Dickey or Shane."

"I don’t know what happened to Dickey. He hasn't called me in weeks."

"Damn, Betts, he got caught with his pants down with Alexandra Simba. That’s what happened."

"I thought he might call after that but he didn’t."

"I can’t figure Shane Simba returning to a wife who got boned by his half-brother, though," mused Wilda.

"Solly gave him hell. Shane can’t stand criticism from Solly. I think that’s his favorite cub along with Staci."

"Shane is one screwed up guy, Betty."

    Dickey Simba was spending his days working like crazy and his nights enmeshed in hashish highs and drunkenness. Sometimes he would call Simone Serval over for a roll in the hay, barring overnight stays. There were other females too. The ones he didn’t call, Betty and Cutty, were the ones he actually felt something for which might give one a clue to the state of Dickey Simba’s psyche.

Dickey Simba kicking back in his flat......

I drove my long time friend and co-worker, Bernice Bear, to the airport where she caught a flight to Nairobi and on to Montana. Bernice was engaging in a much needed vacation from her State House duties as the joint administrative assistant to first lady, Alexandra Simba and press secretary, Cutty Sark.

"Maury, if there is any way you and Lachlan can join me in Montana, you are most welcome. My family will envelop you both with love," gushed Bernice, giving me a big slurping kiss on the mouth.

I told her we would try, knowing it was really futile with my job as Chief of Staff to President Shane Simba and Lachlan’s job with both the Mental Health Center and his new restaurant. Five days later I received a picture enclosed in a greetings card from Bernice. She was happily enjoying a lakeside chill out in her native country.

my good friend and co-worker, Bernice Bear, vacationing in her Montana home.....

Solly Simba, having castigated his father and made up with him in rapid succession, asked a favor.

"Dad, I want to do some extra studies after school term ends. I applied to this prep school in England and got accepted," the studious cub told his father, Shane.

"Your brothers, Arlon, Jason and Joshua are staying in London for summer school this year. I’m sure they’ll be of help if you need them. Go for it, Solly, you are a brilliant kid. I approve a hundred percent," said Shane, putting an arm around his favorite son.

Arlon Lyon, Joshua and Jason Simba, are all sons of Betty Chimpo and adore Solly. Betty and Shane knew, that though still young, Solly was a mature and very studious cub. They both approved his plan to go to London to study.

Chloe Cougar asks for commitment from Rory....

"I think it’s time you made a commitment to me, Rory," commented Chloe Cougar who was buffing her long red nails.

"Commitment?" he asked, lion brow raised.

"Yes, I think we must be in love; we’ve certainly been going at it full time since we met," she commented, checking her nails under the lamp in her living room.

"It’s all about sex, Chloe. Don’t misinterpret a good thing. I am not about to commit to anyone."

"Why not?" she snarled, being phobic on the subject of personal rejection.

"It’s the way I am for the time being," he stated refreshing his drink from her cut glass decanter.

"I’ll bet you’re really gay….being a twin of Lachlan’s," she pouted.

"I’m just a litter mate, not a twin of Lachlan’s. You’re a cat too. You know the difference between littermates and identical twins. Anyhow, I think I’ve been screwing your brains out satisfactorily enough."

"I haven’t had a proposal of marriage since Roy Lee and, years ago, his brother Chris Simba."

"Look to thyself," said Rory, rising and picking his jacket from the back of the couch.

"You’re leaving?" she cried. "Bop is coming over for drinks."

"I’m sure you two will have fun."

When Rory was about to unlock the front door of his recently purchased Watering Hole Condo, he noticed a moving van a few doors down. He shaded his eyes and checked out the new tenants. There was a beautiful older cheetah female…..and then, oh hot damn – after the older female followed the beauty that had been on the cat walk at JAGGERS. Letting himself in his own digs, he beat a hasty retreat to his kitchen. A housewarming gift was in order. Food? shit, shit, shit, his refrigerator was bare. Then it occurred to him. Lachlan’s restaurant – he could order a dish or dessert and take it to the lovely new neighbor. Yes, that’s what he would do. He went to his phone and dialed TSAVO’s number.

      Dickey Simba checked his watch and made his way to his car. Driving past the security gate post, he phoned Betty Chimpo. It was 6:00 pm and she answered.

"It’s your prodigal lover, are you too pissed to see me?" he asked, lighting a cigarette.

"You are unconscionable, Dickey, but come on over. No one is here but Babs who is about to leave for the day."

       Dr. Rory Lion almost tripped as he took the box of chocolate eclairs up the walkway and onto the front porch of Tara Simba’s condo. The door was slightly ajar so he took the liberty of pushing it slightly and calling out.

"Is anyone home?" he asked in his basso profundo voice.

A lovely cheetah came to the door and welcomed with, "Hi, I’m Cynthia Cheetah, Tara’s grandmother."

"I’m Rory Lion, a neighbor. I brought dessert from my brother’s restaurant."

"Oh lovely," announced the grandmother who was quite the looker herself.

Cynthia took the box and led Rory to the kitchen area where Tara was sitting on a packing box speaking on her cell phone. She looked up and winked at the lion psychiatrist but continued her conversation.

"Now, which restaurant is owned by your brother?" asked Cynthia, filling the need for conversation in the face of her granddaughter’s ongoing chat.

"My brother is Lachlan Lion. He heads the Mental Health Center and owns TSAVO," explained Rory, casting glances at the gorgeous Tara.

"Oh dear boy, we simply adore Lachlan. He was the psychological mainstay of my deceased daughter, Catherine. I don’t think Cathy would have survived life in general if it hadn’t been for your wonderful brother and his psychiatry. As it were, she died in a car crash but had a wonderful career, husband and children before she met her death. My husband and I absolutely revere Lachlan."

"Was your daughter married to President Simba?" asked Rory, also wanting conversation in face of the fact that Tara had removed herself from the kitchen and taken her cell phone and conversation to another room.

"Yes, she was his first wife. Staci Lyon and Sean Simba are my grandchildren. Are you also in the medical profession?" inquired Cynthia, escorting him to the front porch where two chairs were available. She had opened beers for them before leading him there.

"I am a shrink now at the Mental Health Center. My brother needed help with his case load when he spends time in the restaurant business. Mrs. Cougar kindly allowed me to join the staff in spite of what some could perceive as nepotism."

"Sylvia Cougar is an outstanding animal. We have been friends for years."

An hour later, Tara joined her visitor and grandmother on the front porch explaining that her mother and father had wanted every detail of her move and budding modeling career.