Maurice & Friends

Betty returned to Kenya and found her husband on a trip that seemed to be one of mystery. Asked if it was official, I told her it was but he didn’t want the location known since it was a security risk.

“You can tell me, Maurice, please?”

She looked stressed, her hands twitching slightly and her dark eyes filled with worry

“Betts, I honestly do not know. If I did, I would tell you. Why don’t you join Lachlan and me for dinner tonight?”

“That would be lovely, Maury.”

“I’ll have Bertram join us if he’s not busy.”

Betty, the First Lady, going through tense times with her hubby....

Glenda Gorilla sat with her photographer in the sleazy offices of the ANIMAL ENQUIRER where she was a top honcho.

“I think I know who he’s seeing, Glenda. I shot these in Ethiopia and South Africa,” announced Roscoe, handing her some photographs.

“Oh damn, that’s Jane with him in that room,” groaned Glenda.

“I know. There’s no one else except for her.”

“I’d love to nail Shane Simba but not at her expense,” said Glenda. “She stood up for me and tried to help me keep my job when Bob Bushbuck fired me at the Mara Daily. I still keep up with her. She’s a friend.”

“She’s a good animal, Glenda. I hope you won’t go after her,” agreed Roscoe.

Glenda slowly tore the photographs to bits and placed them in a paper shredder.

“I won’t,” she announced.

It seemed that Glenda Gorilla, scandal monger extraordinaire, had a sense of fair play after all.

Glenda Gorilla, head writer for scoops at the muck raking ANIMAL ENQUIRER

Shane was given a small but well equipped hut in Kabul. Part of the compound the military used there. They placed Jane across in another less elaborate one. The commanding officers of the British and American forces seemed to be fond and totally respecting of the lioness reporter. They received Shane warmly and with enthusiasm, hearing his thoughts on the matter of Islamic extremism and the situation in the Muslim Africa. They asked pointed questions about his mediation with the Somali warlords who bore a resemblance in structure to the Taliban. Toward the middle of the week, Jane video taped Shane with the generals and sent it by Courier to Bob Bushbuck who sent it promptly to his colleague, Irving Impala, at WMM-TV in the Mara.

The headlines of the Masai Mara Daily read: DIPLOMATIC PRESIDENT VISITS SECOND WAR FRONT. The story went on to say that Shane was becoming a spokesman for world peace and conservation, lauding his efforts. The evening televised news showed the video of Shane sitting with the allied generals around a table in Kabul. Betty sat watching in their bedroom, Solly was asleep with his head in her lap. Her eyes blurred with unshed tears. Here was her husband gaining more and more international prestige but widening the emotional gap as far as she was concerned. When the nanny came for Solly, she undressed and went to her lonely bed. Betty cried herself to sleep as she had many nights.

Cameron Caracal was gaining ground at the law firm of Lyon and Associates. Though she had switched to and fro from Simba Brothers, Curtis Cheetah and Leland Leoparde were giving her bigger and better cases. The problem, to her way of thinking, was her sketchy love life. Who would have thought her messed up sister, Cary, would have been the one to find a happy marriage at last. Cameron fretted endlessly when she wasn’t cracking skulls in court. She had carnal knowledge of both Dick and Simon Simba but was failing to make a lasting impression on either. She knew Simon for the rounder and play boy he was but she had thought there was more of a prospect in the cultured Dick. As it were, both eschewed her except on rare occasions. She was baffled. Cameron Caracal felt she was a sexy and attractive female and was completely unaware of the strident and somewhat bitchy front she presented to males.

Cameron Caracal....

Sloane Simba, though still deeply enamored of the married but miserable Caroline Cheetah Leoparde, was very aware of the impact Dr. Cate Ocelot was having on his daughter, Georgy. The fetching young cub has a loving mother in Caitlin Cougar but still thrilled to the rampant affections of Cate. The Brazilian cat, having added a specialty of child psychiatry to her post graduate medical degree, loved children and was absolutely enchanting with them. She had her patient, Imani Lyon, practically eating out of her paw. There were times when Imani’s mother, Leah, had to page Cate at the center in order to have her reiterate something to Imani who was totally malleable under the machinations of her shrink. Cate Ocelot was easy to love with a petite and very lovely form, luminous eyes and a fondness for sex. Sloane was seeing Cate each weekend at his bush home having served as Betty Simba’s sounding board during the week. The President’s distressed wife was beginning to confide in Sloane – something he didn’t want or need. Nevertheless, what was one to do? Betty was not only his sister-in-law but she also was married to the leader of his country and couldn’t be treated abruptly or discourteously. At other times, he wondered what his presidential half brother would have thought of some of the highly personal and often intimate details she divulged about her life with Shane Simba

Sloane Simba....

Lachlan arrived home early one evening. He had prepared a marvelous roast and salad and had the fire blazing when I arrived from an extra long day at the State House.

“Maury, I have finally gotten my ducks in a row at the mental health center. I now have Cate Ocelot whose taken hold and Cary Simba is doing a wonderful job with the patients in the HIV wing. Then, of course, there’s Gus Leo. I’ve also hired several psychologists to assist in the less serious cases. I think I can finally spring for a vacation. Do you think you can manage one too?”

“Oh, Lachlan, that would be so wonderful. I know Shane would agree to it. It’s just that Betty is so stressed these days……..”

He took my face between two huge paws.

“Maurice, I have said this before. Betty is an animal that we cannot afford to live our lives around her emotional problems. She will always have them because she has chosen to marry a male she can’t handle and doesn’t even remotely fathom. It is her life, lived on the edge at all times – but still very much hers. NOT OURS, MAURY! You have such a loving heart but don’t get caught up the marital maelstrom of Shane and Betty Simba.”

“I will ask Shane as soon as he returns from Afghanistan. I know he will agree. He is very understanding and considerate of my needs. Where shall we go?”

“I went by Barnes & Noble today and bought lots of maps and vacation books. We will plot our course after drinks and dinner.”

The last night Shane was in Kabul, Jane spent the full night in his room, getting up at the crack of dawn to return to hers. They made love, speaking of things political and otherwise throughout the night. He held her in his arms, taking pleasure at the beat of her heart as she fell asleep glued next to him in the single bed.

As Shane rode in the helicopter that would take him to the State House, he made a promise to himself that he would try to give Betty some pleasure in his return. She was his wife and as such entitled to some happiness despite their recent disputes. He made a firm commitment not to castigate her about taking the official plane for a personal junket. He would simply designate that the major presidential aircraft couldn’t be used except with his express permission. As he exited the elevator in the mansion, he called to Solly. He found him in the family room with his mother and two very large stuffed lions. Betty stood up to greet him and was shocked when he kissed her and asked, “How was New York, Fifi?”

Solly ran to him and hugged his leg. He picked his youngest son up in his arms and held him to him. The small cub twisted in his father’s grip, pointing with chubby arms to his stuffed collection of male lions.

“Dada,” he gurgled to his father. “Dada, Dada”.

“He chose those because he thought they were you,” Betty told him.

“He is so beautiful, Fifi, he’s absolutely miraculous,” said Shane, his voice filled with emotion.

Later all the children arrived from their various commitments and greeted Shane, happily. Dinner that night was a gala affair filled with laughter and animated conversation. A high chair was placed for Solly with his premiere appearance at the family dinner table. Shane made love to his wife that night. Betty went to sleep, contented for the first time in ages. In her ardor she failed to realize that his was still a performance lacking in passion – a matter of skilled sexual choreography.

Shane with Solly after his trip to Afghanistan....

Caitlin Cougar had very little connection with the father of her second cub these days. Steven Simba, busy with the heady law practice at Simba Brothers, was spending time with his ex-wife, Dina Myers and their recently born cub. Sloane Simba was not interested in his ex-wife at all but becoming a rather close friend all the same. He would pick up Georgy every weekend, visiting with Caitlin for a time. You couldn’t say Caitlin’s life lacked for much. Her parents had just resituated in the Masai Mara from Montana, purchasing a lovely town home in the Watering Hole group. She spent a great deal of time with them as well as her aunt and uncle, Sylvia and Bernard Cougar. Her career was gaining in speed. She now had a regular gallery at the arts center where she sold her sculptures. She also worked part time for the Masai Mara Daily.

One evening, she received a call from her cousin, Linda Cougar, inviting Caitlin to join her at the Watering Hole Pub. Caitlin decided to do this and engage in a bit of fun for the night. She dressed carefully, saw her children to bed and gave the baby sitter last minute instructions.

The usual merriment invaded the pub. It was a Friday at sunset. The singles and those looking for a good time huddled around the two bars. Caitlin spotted Linda at the bar surrounded by some male lions and a cheetah. She was in a state of animated flirtation. When she saw Caitlin she beckoned gaily for her to join the crowd. She introduced her friends as Chad Cheetah, Simon Simba and his half-brother, Dick Simba. These were two recent comers in the Simba pride and Caitlin wasn’t acquainted with either. It was easy to see that Simon was a player, certain of his appeal in being the spit image of Roy Lee Simba. Dick, on the other hand, appeared to be a male with taste and intellect. He was discussing with fellow lawyer, Curtis Cheetah, his art and music collection. Dick, like all the Simba males, could also be considered a ‘handsome devil’. As the evening progressed, Caitlin became involved in conversation with both Curtis Cheetah and Dick Simba. They found a table next to the bar and the three got into a vivacious conversation about art.

“So you’re the sculptress?” asked Dick.

“Yes, I show my work at the arts center.”

“I bought one of your pieces last week,” he mused.

Both males were polite, ordering a second round of drinks. Curtis spotted his current squeeze, Landa Jaguar, and went to join her, leaving Dick and Caitlin at the table.

“This is not a come on but I would love to show you my paintings and where I placed your sculpture. My town house is just a short distance, Caitlin. I promise to be a very good boy, if you’ll join me for a drink and quick look.”

She laughed. “I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. Let’s go. I’d love to see your collection.”

They walked in the moonlight to his home, Caitlin realizing that he was a rather close neighbor of her parents. When they entered his tastefully decorated living room, she was amazed at the very good paintings he had collected. In the corner on a stunning carved teak column sat her sculpture of a male lion.

“These pieces are lovely. Where did you find them all?”

“I schooled in Amsterdam. I found them, for the most part, there.”

He made drinks and handed one to Caitlin.

“I thought the Simbas all went to the universities in England.”

“I was a rebel, inheriting that quality from my mother. I chose Amsterdam and to Roy Lee’s credit, he didn’t balk.”

“Roy Lee is wonderful. I was married to your half brother, Sloane. I met Roy Lee at the brunches your Aunt Sarah Lee gives.”

“So you married Sloane, did you? How was that? Is your daughter the captivating Georgy?”

“Yes, so you know her?”

“Yes, Sloane brings her to the brunches when she’s with him. She’s absolutely gorgeous and looks like you except for the thick mane of hair from Sloane.”

They talked of things of interest to both. When an hour had passed, Caitlin felt she should get back to Linda. They rose to leave.

“Caitlin, this has been the most delightful evening I’ve spent since returning to the Mara. Can I see you sometime?”

“Yes, why don’t you come to my house for dinner one night?”

“I’d love that.”

“Next Friday?”

“You’re on.”

They returned to the pub to find that Linda had already repaired to the home of Simon Simba and was not to be seen anywhere. Caitlin said her goodbyes and drove home. That night, Dick Simba invaded her dreams