Nakuru, a town in the Great Rift Valley, situated on the flamingo thronged lake, was the next hot spot in this ongoing tragedy that is destroying the fiber of our country.  Boys from rival tribes went about, some with bows and arrows, killing at random.  Kenya’s president, Shane Simba, had ordered curfews for Eldoret and Nairobi, now they were to apply to Nakuru.  We all shuddered.  Animals were not the ones being killed at the moment but that could all change with anarchy.  Shane suffered for the humans enduring the torments of a crumbling society.  His wife is human and two of his children certainly look more human than lion.  Kenya consisted of animal and human lives and Shane governed them both and wanted the best for all. 

 

                                                                                        Nakuru....... 

            In the interim, those of us who can even afford pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere began to dwell, ever so slightly, on the prospect.  Hope burns eternal in both animal and human breasts.  Lachlan, for one, said he would never leave Kenya.  If he refuses, I shall join him in his defiance.  Our lives are so intertwined now that I can’t imagine being without him.  Bertram Baboon and I grabbed a quick lunch the other day.  He will go to France.  That was predictable. 

---

 

            In the midst of all this turmoil, Betty Chimpo felt inwardly peaceful.  She loved her work as a professor.  She was determined not to put any sort of pressure on new love, Dickey Simba.  She realized that all of this could be destroyed by Kenya’s instability but the made over chimpanzee had a relish for not dwelling on future problems. 

 

            Dickey Simba, having just stepped off the presidential helicopter after a trip to Nakuru with Shane Simba, was told to take the evening off.  That was something he was keen to do.  He was almost as weary as our president.  He headed to his apartment, calling Betty Chimpo on the way. 

 

            She buzzed downstairs just as Dickey was pouring a glass of wine for himself.  After letting her in, making Betty a martini and packing his bong with hashish, they took a seat on his couch. 

 

“Betty, I was in Nakuru today with Shane.  The situation in this country looks more and more desperate,” he told her.  “Will you leave Kenya if things go sour?”

 

“I am a native of Tanzania, Dickey, but I’ve been in the Mara for 12 years.  I can’t imagine leaving here.  What will you do?”

 

“I was born and raised in the Masai Mara but if they start trophy hunting lions again, I will haul my ass out of here.  I am partial to Amsterdam.”

 

“But that’s basically a human society, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes, it is but you can stay stoned there,” he chuckled.  “I would have to support myself however.”

 

“Does getting stoned mean all that much to you, Dickey?”

 

It was a real question and a real moment and much hinged on his answer.  They both knew this.  He decided that total honesty was the best policy. 

 

“I have multiple emotional problems, Betty……I am a trouper at self medicating.”

 

“There is help available, Dickey…..an entire mental health center with top notch shrinks,” she countered. 

 

He walked around her answer.  “Do you object to me smoking hash?”

 

“Well, no, I don’t suppose I do.”

 

She sounded hesitant and he sensed it.

 

“I will not change for you, Betty.  I will only change if I feel the need to do so.”

 

“I don’t expect you to change for me, Dickey.  No one has ever changed for me,” she said forlornly.

 

“What a poignant thing for you to say, Betty.  It’s rather heartbreaking.”

 

She blinked back sudden tears.  He caught that too.  He reached for her and pulled her tightly against him. 

 

“If we have to leave, I would want you to go somewhere with me,” he murmured into her thick dark hair.

 

Her heart exploded with joy.  They made love tenderly and for a long time in his room as the answering machine picked up multiple calls from his frustrated female friends.

---

 

            Things have only gotten worse now.  One of our more moderate parliament leaders was murdered.  Shane, accompanied by an entire slew of dignitaries attended his funeral. - So much death and mayhem surrounds us now.  Kenya University in the Mara has closed its doors for a three week break.  Betty has been asked by Ashley Lyon to help fly missions to the stricken Great Rift Valley area.  In khaki slacks and old shirt, she valiantly few five missions just last week.  Shane has sent his sent his two half human children to stay with Alexandra’s relatives in England. 

 

more violence in the Rift Valley.....

 

            The most unlikely souls have come forth, both human and animal.  They are helping in our crisis.  Charlotte Elephanti and Cappie Cape Buffalo are helping in the valley.  The two most unlikely of all are Bop Boon and Chloe Cougar.  I am sure that Chloe got a most apropos kick in the ass by her parent’s Bernard and Sylvia Cougar.  As for Bop, no telling what fired her pistons.  Lucy Cougar and her boyfriend, Sloane Simba, are both flying supplies to the stricken areas. 

 

 

            Lewis Lyon is utilizing his jumbo jets and materials from the Lewis Lyon Construction Companies to help rebuild razed villages in the area.  Ralph and Mildred Lyon are working tirelessly as ambassadors for the frayed nerves, being legends in their own time. 

---

 

            In the interim, JAGGERS stills thrive.  It seems that animals and humans in a constant state of tension still enjoy the pleasures of being dressed well.  Tanzanian lion president, Pete Levin, finally becoming conscious of upscale clothing is attending the many fashion shows that feature his model fiancé Imani Lyon.  In addition, there is another that has just caught his eye.  Georgy Cougar cat walked her voluptuous body across the runway causing Pete to remember his intense crush on her mother, Caitlin Cougar, when she lived with Chris Simba in the Serengeti.  Pete clumsily trod on Imani’s poshly clad feet as he made a rush for Georgy backstage. 

 

“Shit,” growled Imani “These are Manolo Blahnik sandals.  Where are you going?”

 

“She looks like someone I know,” announced Pete, pointing at Georgy who wore an astonishing garment. 

 

“You probably know her mom, Caitlin. She lived with our uncle Chris Simba in Tanzania.”

 

Bingo went the chime in Pete’s head.  Georgy was a dead ringer for her gorgeous mother. 

 

“How do you do, uh Miss?” asked Pete, sticking out a hand to Georgy whose eyes lit up. 

 

“I am Georgy Simba and I know who you are, Mr. President,” cooed Georgy who was on her best behavior and adoring the fact that Imani Lyon was going ballistic just behind Pete’s shoulder. 

 

“Will you join me for a drink in my suite at the Four Seasons this evening, Miss Simba?”

 

“I’d simply love that,” purred Georgy.  “Just let me change into my own clothes.”

 

About that time, Duke approached Imani and fumed, “You are going to perspire in this dress.  Get it off this minute, you know you shouldn’t wear these more than the time it takes you to model them.  Get it off NOW,”: screeched the lion designer. 

 

Imani gave a great hiss and went to her dressing room.  When she emerged, the dress having been difficult to remove needing all sorts help from others, Pete had disappeared with Georgy. 

 

Pete and Georgy discover each other...

---

 

            Imani raged all the way into her father’s bush home where he and Staci Simba Lyon were taking a short break with their cubs before returning to piloting aid to Kenya’s embattled areas. 

 

“Georgy has got Pete in his room at the hotel.  They aren’t letting anyone in there,” snarled Imani. 

 

Ashley Lyon stood and faced his oldest daughter.  His face serious, his khaki eyes filled with emotion. 

 

“Kenya is in the greatest trouble we have ever known, Imani.  I don’t give a shit if Pete Levin is screwing a dozen other females.  Get your ass over to the hangar and learn to fly.  Maybe then you can be of help instead of bitching about the fripperies.  If animals lose power in Kenya there will be no more of anything for us except death and being hunted for trophies,” shouted the usually good natured Ashley. 

 

The look in her usually laid back father’s eyes struck a note.  She had never seen Ashley Lyon take this sort of stand before. 

 

“Dad, is it really that bad?”

 

“Yes, it’s even worse than we know,” added Staci. 

 

“Will you or Luke teach me, Dad?” asked a very subdued Imani. 

 

“Someone will, Imani.  Sloane and Lucy can help, they’re both licensed pilots.  Or you can fly with Betty Chimpo,” suggested Ashley. 

 

“Okay then…..shit, I didn’t know it was this bad,” said Imani. 

 

“I’ll bet you’re hungry, Imani.  There’s plenty of dinner left,” said Staci, beckoning the houseboy. 

---

 

            Against the will of the security guards and Alexandra Simba, Shane decided to do a Denys Finch Hatton number and learn to fly after one brief lesson from his wife.  I don’t know if anyone remembers the film, Out of Africa, but the main romantic lead learned to fly overnight.  Shane Simba was tired of being piloted everywhere.  He wanted to see first hand where the problems were in his country.  So it was that Shane at the controls, with Alexandra Simba in the co-pilot’s seat and one Masai guard in the rear, would fly over the Great Rift Valley and put down wherever he spotted trouble. 

 

Shane Simba with school children in  the Rift Valley

---

 

Terry Simba, Betty Chimpo and visiting professor share podium at Kenya University

 

 

 Betty Chimpo, after spending a morning at the University where she participated in a student awards program, donned khakis and a work shirt and went to the airport.  There stood the official car with Dickey Simba languidly propped against it.  He took her hand as she approached.

 

“I was told the pilot would be waiting for me, does she happen to be you?” he asked. 

 

“Yes, I was asked to take a VIP on a flight after the awards ceremony.  I didn’t realize you were the one,” she giggled. 

 

“I have to go to Eldoret.  Shane has a house there.  We can stay there if we wish.  He and Alex are going to be in Nakuru today.  Do you know the way?”

 

“I surely do,” she laughed. 

 

            The cicadas were at fever pitch almost as if they were in a rush to chant Kenya’s final night song.  The small but attractive home in Eldoret was welcoming to Dickey and Betty who had spent the better part of the evening soothing people who had been burned out of their homes.  Scatterings of animals approached with fear in their eyes and asked Dickey for reassurance that at the end of the day we would still have our lion president. 

 

            Betty joined Dickey in the kitchen to search for liquor.  There they found good wines and opened a bottle of Chardonnay. 

 

“I think Shane must have bought this place when he was having his affair with Jane Leoparde,” mused Betty, lighting a cigarette.  “It served as their love nest.”

 

“Were you his wife in those days?”

 

“Oh yes and pregnant with our twin cubs,” she laughed lightly.

 

“You don’t seem bitter.”

 

“I would have been but now Jane is my good friend.”

 

“Pain makes strange bedfellows,” observed Dickey following Betty to the porch. 

 

“It seems a long time ago, Dickey.”

 

She sat on a chair, he below her and drank their wine.  She stoked his mane. 

 

“Everything is distorted time wise these days.  It’s as if we are living at the very precipice of our lives and could free fall into chaos at any given moment.”

 

“Oh my God, that’s so true,” she agreed, shivering slightly. 

 

“In ordinary times, Betty, I am usually as slow as a land turtle to act on anything at all of a personal nature.  I have also told you that anything resembling serious in a relationship is new to me but…….”

 

She didn’t breathe, just continued stroking his mane with her long slender fingers, occasionally placing her lips to the top of his head. 

 

“I am going to say this now because we may have no tomorrow at all…..I love you, Betty.”

 

She began to cry quietly, her tears falling on the blond mane. 

 

“Oh Dickey, how I hope you really do because I love you too.”

 

Dickey and Betty at Shane's retreat in Eldoret...