Maurice & Friends

Betty Chimpo had attained her wildest dream. Never did she imagine Shane Simba’s wife would die in a tragic automobile accident. Nor did she envisage him ever having another affair with her after the book. Not only had these things transpired but now she had him living in her home. She teetered between rapture and panic. Those sensations failed to comfortably exist conjointly in one consciousness. Betty knew now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was besotted with this lion forever more. It was the fear of losing him that produced such all out dread in the usually urbane Betty.

The first big event that the couple attended as live-ins happened to be Sylvia and Bernard Cougar’s colossal Halloween bash. Shane had dressed in a Versace sports coat, silk shirt and linen slacks. He looked divine in the opinion of his adoring roommate.

“I thought you were going as a lion,” laughed Betty.

“Since I am a lion, I decided that would be no fun so I’m going as a human dressed in my finest garb. Feel free to compliment me.”

“You look astonishing, but then you always do,” she said, grabbing him around the waist and nuzzling his chest.

“You look gorgeous too. I love the leopard costume. Although I feel a bit wounded that you didn’t choose to go as a lioness. I almost feel slighted,” he teased. “And don’t do too much finger play around my waist or we might not make it to the party.”

They went down stairs to find Staci and Arlon dressed in their costumes. They were attending a teen Halloween party in the Tigeres compound at the home of Frank and Melba, Tigger’s parents. Arlon had received his driver’s license that day. Ashley had given him a new car for his birthday. He was feeling quite full of himself. Miss B and Babs were hosting Leah and Ashley’s cubs and Sean Simba in a small children’s affair at Betty’s.

The elaborately carved pumpkins lined the walk leading to Sylvia and Bernard’s house. Inside there were bubbling cauldrons filled with strong punch. Bars were set up throughout the house where anything one might want by way of pricey booze was accessible. The many rooms and large walled garden were full to capacity with the invited. Charlotte Elephanti had hijacked Ralph Lyon, surrounding him with her trunk while he filled her in on the things he was doing. The great elephant matriarch had never recognized the fact that he was now the president of her country. To Charlotte, he would be perpetually her dear pal, Ralph, the lazy bush lion lying in the sun. Ralph didn’t mind at all. He revered the elephant matriarch.

Betty as a leopard at the Halloween party with Shane……

Caroline Cheetah spotted Betty and Shane when they arrived. She was costumed as a gypsy with a full facial mask. She hoped it would prove handy at some point during the party. She pulled down the mask in order to smoke a cigarette, all the while keeping watch on Shane’s whereabouts.

Bertram Baboon, Chad Cheetah, Lachlan Lion and I attended together. None of us were costumed. We realized that it might be interpreted as being not with the ticket or blasé at best, but we seemed, as a group, to have resisted the idea.

“We are such vibrant characters that we need no further adornment to bring out our variety,” pronounced Bertram.

“Lachlan has a mane. Don’t you wish we at least had one of those?” laughed Chad.

“We can’t all be lions, now can we?” asked Bertram.

“I think not,” I added.

We were invited afterward to Gerald Giraffe’s annual gay Halloween gathering which was always held at a remarkably late hour.

Caroline Cheetah followed Shane to the Cougar’s guest bathroom. She stood outside the locked door. When it opened she rushed in and attempted to corner him.

“What is your thing concerning me, Caroline? Let’s get it out in the open and be done with it.”

She attempted to unbutton his shirt, he removed her paws.

“I want you. Why don’t you just fuck me and be done with it?”

“Grow up! We all have to at some point in time.”

He slammed down the toilet seat that had been up.

“Here, why don’t you take a leak or do something else constructive?”

He pushed past and left her there.

That night in sleep, Shane called out “Cathy” and then sat up suddenly on the side of the bed. Betty was awake but feigning sleep, because she didn’t want to intrude. He sat for several hours on a bench next to the window, smoking cigarettes, before he finally returned to bed, holding her in his arms until the soft rays of early morning sun peeked through the shutters.

Betty had just returned from WMM-TV after taping her evening news segment. She made a drink and went to her patio. There she saw Sean Simba weeping softly on a step.

“What’s wrong, Sean?” she asked, holding him close.

“I miss Mummy,” he wailed.

“I know you do, baby. Maybe we can help each other out.”

“How?” he hiccupped.

“I had my two little cubs taken from me by their daddy. Maybe I can act a little like your mommy and you can pretend you’re my little fellow. You think that might work, Sean?”

He stopped crying and gave her a long purposeful stare.

“Yeah, that could work, Betty. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Sean. I think this is going to be a great plan. Let’s start now. How about a bag of McDonalds? I used to take my boys there everyday. We can go this very minute.”

“Oh, yeah. Let’s do that, Betty.”

About that time Arlon and Staci arrived home from their various school activities. They both took note of Sean’s tear marked face and suggested everyone go to the favored burger joint. Staci, Betty and Sean joined Arlon in his car for a drive through the take out window at McDonalds.

Shane came home to find his new family circle at the kitchen table scarfing down the food from McDonalds. He didn’t find fault as Sam had. He sat down and joined them.

“There’s a saying: the family that eats trash food together stays together all the way to the emergency room,” remarked Shane.

“Oh, Daddy, you’re so full of it,” giggled Staci.

Betty with Shane's son, Sean Simba.....

“Are you happy, Fifi?” asked Shane.

They were in what had become their room. He held her tightly to him, nipping her hair with his teeth.

“I’m afraid to breathe, I’m so happy, Shane. It’s a fucking miracle,” she giggled.

“Well be sure to breathe, Fifi. I’m about to have sex with you. I’ve heard that breathing is necessary during that process.”

Alexander Simba, having run from yet another domestic wrangle, was in the Pub. He was on his fifth drink when Linda Cougar came to the bar and stood next to him. He took a look and approved of what he saw – a lot. He was feeling absolutely no pain at this point so he pinched her shapely stern. She reeled to face him. He liked her face too. She was pretty, pert and everything he needed to chill out with this night.

“I’m Alex Simba,” he said, holding out a paw that missed its mark and ended somewhere between her navel and groin.

“Was that supposed to be a paw shaking? If it was, it missed mine – by a lot.”

She began to giggle.

“I think I’m drunk. Shorry……” he slurred.

“I think you just may be. Need some coffee? I have a new coffee maker in my condo. I just moved there recently,” she told him, removing his paw from another area of her anatomy that didn’t seem suitable for a public place.

“Please. I don’t even know your name,” he said, stumbling into her.

“It’s Linda. Let’s go. I’ll lead you there. Take my paw.”