Maurice & Friends

Being aware of her recent image through the paparazzo’s revelations of her peccadilloes with Sean Simba, Betty Chimpo chose to dress esthetically for her dinner date with Dickey Simba. She donned a very modest but elegant suit and perched her horn rims on her nose. Wilda Wildebeest peeked in her door as she was dressing.

“Looks like an evening out. Dear God, do not let it be a Simba related event,” griped Wilda. “I will move out of this house if it is and leave you emotionally bereft without my sound and caring advice.”

“You can’t leave this house, Willie, I just went to the lawyers and signed it over to you with a clause that I could live here with you until I die or go elsewhere – whichever comes first,” giggled Betty.

“Shit, Betts, what prompted you to do that?” asked the astounded but rather pleased Wilda.

“You are always dependant on your kids for a permanent home. I didn’t want it to be that way anymore – so bingo! I can’t gift wrap the damn house but early Merry Christmas, Willie.”

Wilda was so overcome with emotion at her friend’s gesture that she forgot to wonder at where her best friend might be heading.

Lady Margaret Delamere having tea in her home in England...

The official limousine pulled into the long drive of the presidential bush house in the Mara.

“They’re here, Luv,” called Alexandra Simba to her husband, Shane, who was reading yet another newspaper.

Shane followed his wife at a slower pace. When Alexandra saw her sister-in-law emerging from the car with her brother, Ian, she almost dropped her teeth. There was the usually sedate Lady Margaret Delamere dressed to the nines in bosom bearing attire. She greeted Alexandra, almost exposing a nipple from the revealing cleavage. When she spotted Shane Simba, Margaret rushed forward and drew the surprised lion into an embrace of such endurance and intensity, that Alexandra and Ian cast puzzled glances at one another.

Kerri Klipspringer and Dodi Dik Dik Lyon in their restaurant, Klip 'n Dodi's...

Klip ‘n Dodi’s was lit like the proverbial Christmas tree with small lights in the potted plants and diners who were feeling absolutely no pain from the seasonal grog. There were several Christmas parties spilling into the main dining areas. A waiter led Dickey and Betty to a quiet corner, apologizing for the rain that rendered the delightful terrace useless.

Sean Simba and his first cousin, Troy Simba, were having a walk through at the white elephant crumbling house that Sean had rented.

“Shit, dude, this place will put calluses on our asses to whip it into shape,” moaned Troy.

The housemates had just given up the lease on the Leoparde Drive home and it could not be retrieved because the owner, Caitlin Cougar, was returning to the Mara with her lover, Chris Simba. She was going to take up residence there with Chris.

“Aw come on, Troy, we don’t have lucrative sports contracts for nothing. We can hire someone to do the work. Quit whining,” admonished Sean, who was determined not to let his lack of judgment be too noticeable.

“I hope you got that piece of ass you were shooting for when you signed this lease. This place is a shit hole,” complained the more practical Troy.

Sean stayed silent. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had failed to even get a date with the agent, Angelina Cougar, much less get laid.

Sean Simba and his cousin, Troy Simba (r) look over their rental......

Roy Lee Simba could not stop laughing. Being very close to his son, Troy, the lad had taken his dad to see the horrendous house Sean had rented for them. Father and son had done the tour, replete with ceiling bats, vine cracked walls, mildew – the entire kit and caboodle.

“What’s so funny, Dad? The place sucks.”

Roy Lee put a paternal arm around his son. “Troy, my Christmas gift to you will be the price of renovation for this damn place.”

“Dad, you will only be making some human asshole in Nairobi rich if you do that. But thanks for the thought,” answered Troy, sadly.

Unbeknownst to Troy, Roy Lee called Jackal-Cougar Realty and asked if the man would sell the house. After a few hours, Angelina Cougar called back and said, he damn sure would – for a price. Roy Lee placed another call. Shane came on the line.

“Bro, we need to purchase that house that Sean rented for Troy and him. It’s a shit hole but can be fixed up to be a valuable piece of real estate. You willing to go halves with me on it?” asked Roy Lee.

“Damn, Roy Lee, I’m not in the mood to do a bloody thing for Sean at the moment. Not until he gets his act together. Anyway those two are rich with sports money, why don’t they buy it for themselves?” asked Shane.

“Because it is a good investment, Shane, and Sean is your son with his warts and all. He deserves a Christmas gift. Let’s do it.”

“Okay, man, you do the contract thing. I’ll sign too and give you half the money. Of course you do know that Sean will merely use it for a bordello.”

“Hey, Bro, don’t be too hard on the cub. I remember you and me with our horny ways. Just because we’re settled with the loves of our lives, let’s not get smug,” advised Roy Lee.

“Okay, Roy Lee. Just let me know when and where to sign and send the check.”

Dodi Dik Dik Lyon and her partner, Kerri Klipspringer had already gone home. The hour was late and only the skeleton night staff at Klip ‘n Dodi’s were still matriculating among the few stragglers left in the restaurant. Among them were Betty Chimpo and Dickey Simba. The couple was still at the table in the corner, having eaten. Now they were on their third cognac. The lion and made over chimpanzee were deep in conversation. Dickey was a wonderful, warm and compassionate listener. Betty, with encouragement, had related the entire saga of her life with Shane followed by the mishap with Jack Tarzan. Dickey had listened quietly, occasionally lighting cigarettes for Betty and him. Being a member of the Simba pride, he was already familiar with the story but had never heard the heartrending details from Betty’s angle. He then told Betty of his sodden mother, Goosey, and his return to practice law in the Mara. He spoke of his love for words, literature and writing which had come to naught due to the Simba demand for lawyers for their firm. At 2:00 am, the waiter politely asked if he could present the check – it was past closing time.

Dickey and Betty in Klip 'n Dodi's restaurant...

The rain had ceased and the air felt fresh. The night birds were calling, the tree frogs raging in the damp air. Dickey walked Betty to her car for she had met him at the restaurant. He didn’t embrace her or kiss her, merely told her what a lovely time he had with her. He opened the car door, saw her inside and watched her drive off having thanked him for the wonderful dinner and evening.

When she entered her house, no one was awake. She tiptoed to her room and removed her clothes, dropping into bed. She was about to turn off the lamp when the bedside phone rang.

“Betts, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Your cell phone was off and Wilda hung up on me twice,” carped Sean Simba, who sounded desperate and edgy.

“I went out to dinner, Sean. It’s late and I am very tired.”

“Can I come over?”

“No, Sean, it’s almost three in the morning. I am going to sleep,” she explained.

“Want to come over here? I won’t be on Leoparde Drive much longer – no more easy-walking distance to see me,” he coaxed.

“Sean, darling, I am exhausted. I’ll see you another time.”

She hung up, taking the phone off the hook, never realizing that she had segued into her former mother-son dialogue reminiscent of the time when she was the cub Sean Simba’s new stepmother.

The members of the construction crew brushed past Sean. They began to erect scaffolding so they could paint the cavernous ceilings of the ramshackle house he had rented.

“Mister,” protested Sean, to one burly human workman. “I haven’t hired anyone. We were going to do the work ourselves. I don’t know why you’re here.”

The painter spat on the floor before answering. “The President has bought this house. He hired us. We’re from Mr. Lyon’s crew.”

“The President? There’s some mistake. I’m Sean Simba and I just rented this place with my cousin. We’re soccer stars.”

The workman was unimpressed. He spat again. “This is President Simba’s house and it’s also owned by his brother….. that movie star lion chap.”

Sean said no more but ran for his car and sped off.

Shane Simba was having a miserable time in spite of the fact he was so happily married with his children around him. He was constantly having to avoid being alone with Margaret Delamere. This was hard to do. Sacha and Tanya, his children with Alexandra, would be napping. The other children would be out and about with various activities and Ian Delamere would be riding horses with Alexandra on the savanna somewhere. The avid creature would catch him in one room or another reading or tending to business. She would plop her self there as close beside him as she could, odorous with rich perfume, her cleavage at half mast. There she would try to engage him in conversation bordering on the bawdy. Shane Simba had never been at a loss with females and women but those were ones he had desired. He did not in any way fancy this unctuous human representative of the English aristocracy. He would have joined Ian and Alex in horse back riding if he wasn’t sure the bloody horse would panic at his lion scent and toss him on his ass. He was at a loss. Margaret had ventured very close and put a hand toward his genitals at one point. He had barely escaped having to confront her with the transgression. He was on pins and needles and this was ruining the crap out of his holiday.

Alexandra soothes the ruffled Shane....

Alexandra was acutely attuned to her husband’s nervous tension. She closed the door of their bedroom.

“Shane, you look out of sorts, Luv. Are you well?”

“No, quite frankly, Alex. Margaret is driving me to madness. She gets me alone and it’s really awkward. I don’t want to make a scene. I truly like Ian. The other day the fool reached for my cock and almost made the play. I had to run here and close the door,” he groused.

Alexandra was fairly taken aback. She had sensed her sister-in-law had a huge crush on Shane but didn’t realize the full extent of it.

“I’ll make sure I am with you at all times. I am so sorry, darling,” she soothed, suppressing an errant giggle.

We had our Christmas party at the State House for staff members. The tree in the presidential dining room was alight, the booze flowing with a delicious smelling buffet set up to the side. Bernice Bear wore red and handed out the gifts. Alexandra and Shane were all over the room wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. We were all quite drunk before we left for the day. On December 21^st, we will end government business until the day after New Year. That way the staff and dignitaries can enjoy a bit of holiday relaxation. Shane was very relaxed, Alexandra telling me that her brother and sister-in-law had left that morning for England. One wonders whether Ian caught on to his wife’s flagrant behavior toward Shane Simba and ended the ordeal. I guess I shall never know. Now Shane can curl around his family and enjoy a relaxed holiday until the 2008 brings on more work with our advancing nation.