“You can't stop loving or wanting to love because when it’s right, it's the best thing in the world. When you're in a relationship and it's good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you feel like your whole world is complete”…….Keath Sweat.

            Shane and Betty were kicking back one evening after a long work day.  Arlon passed by them on his way to swim with Staci and Sean. 

“I am so proud, Shane.  Did you see that Arlon is beginning to get his mane?”

Shane began to rock with laughter almost choking on his cigarette smoke. 

“Did you ever think in your wildest dreams as a little chimpanzee tyke in the Gombe district that one day you’d be proud because a son of yours was getting a mane?”

“You know you have a compelling point there,” she giggled. “I never did imagine these things.”

“Sitting under that tree with your mum swilling fermented fruit, you probably dreamed about marrying some chimp or gorilla one fine day.” 

“Oh no, Shane, chimps never marry gorillas,” declared Betty, her face serious. 

This caused her husband to break out in another fit of hilarity.

“Oh, I do beg your pardon.  Your average chimpanzee makes a point of marrying lions and tigers like you did - but God forbid a fellow ape,” he laughed, taking her glass to make her another drink. 

“You can always put me in my place, “she laughed. 

“After this drink we’re going upstairs and I will put you in the place I want you at this moment – our bed,” he declared, his tawny eyes smoky with desire. 

            When Lucy Cougar Simba arrived for her first day of work with Betty, she was shocked at the fragile appearance of Bernard and Sylvia’s youngest daughter.  She seemed thin with the exception of her swelling belly.  Her eyes looked haunted.  Betty greeted her warmly and asked Babs to bring her some hot tea. She sat with her cup of coffee and chatted with Lucy attempting to get the heartrending little waif to open up to her.  She explained what she wanted her to do by way of acknowledging her mail. 

“How is Alexander?”

“Okay,” muttered Lucy, clearly not wanting to delve into the subject of her husband. 

“Do you know yet what your babies will be?”

“Yes, it’s a single male.”

“That’s exciting.  I know you are both thrilled.  How long have you got to go?”

“About a month and a half.  Can I get started, Betty? I’m anxious to make some headway.  This is a large pile of mail.”

“Of course, you can, Lucy. Want more tea?”

“No thanks.”

Lucy arrives for work.......

            Caroline Cheetah and Luke Leoparde could certainly be said to have hit it off sexually.  The problem seemed to be the melding of two very different personalities.  Luke was a truly urbane character.  He was well traveled, having been privy to the Leoparde billions during his lifetime.  His education was flawless.  The same could be said of Caroline Cheetah, who had been educated overseas as the other Cheetah offspring.  The difference lay in their temperaments.  Luke had tried marriage with Simone Serval and was unable to be faithful to her.  He had two sons by the serval film star and vowed to remain single after this mishap that had ended in divorce.  His ideal female was the wife of his best friend.  Leah Simba Lyon was all that Luke desired in a female.  She was beautiful, charming, and sweet.   Leah could hold her own with any male when it came to boating, wind sailing, surf boarding and waterskiing.  Luke adored her from a distance.  She was Ashley Lyon’s wife and Ashley was his best friend and business partner.  Caroline Cheetah missed the mark when it came to being similar to Leah.  Caroline looked sexy, was very brainy and could hold her own in the bed and in conversation.  But Luke didn’t even want to spend a great deal of time in her company.  He found her fiery and rather irritating in the matter of give and take.  Luke could easily sate his sexual needs with her but anything beyond that; the savvy leopard wasn’t inclined to do.  Caroline, not realizing the effect of her personality on others, particularly males, desired a solid relationship.  The two were at odds points.  Luke would meet Caroline for a drink at the Watering Hole Pub when ever he was free from his air safari schedule.  They would then go to either his bungalow at the safari club or her house in the bush. 

            Betty adored her husband to distraction and did everything in her power to make his life a happy one.  Betty, minus the woes of post childbirth, was a caring, strong, resilient, cerebral and amusing female. Shane Simba was thriving in this atmosphere.  He had loved his first wife, Catherine Cheetah Simba, with all his heart.  She had borne him two children whom he adored.  But Catherine, being clinically plagued with mental illness and neuroses, was of times problematical. Only toward the end of her troubled life did she get a grip on her emotions and become a wonderful mother.  Shane had been an exceedingly laid back animal in his years in England where he had studied law and acquired a post graduate degree.  The disquiet of his relationship and subsequent marriage to Catherine had unsettled his nerves.  He had become a chronic player and adulterer.  Catherine had lacked a genuine sense of humor, being very on edge and neurotic her entire life, she was all about intensity in everything she did and said.  She could be cutting and brittle in conversation but those elements have never been a sound replacement for a good old fashioned sense of enjoyment and fun.  With that quality so ever present in Betty, she brought out the equivalent in him that had been pushed below the surface during his life with Catherine.  Shane was an entirely different lion these days.  He was assured of coming home to a warm and loving household which included his children, stepson and his adoring wife.  Shane Simba, vice president of Kenya, was free to pursue the advanced statesmanship he coveted in this caring and agreeable milieu which just happened to be his home.  An added bonus was the fact that his chronic life threatening ulcers seemed to have subsided.  On the last check up with Dr. Frank Tigeres, the tiger physician had pronounced him clear of stomach problems entirely.   

            Bernard Cougar was perturbed.  His wife, Sylvia, had finally told him about their son-in-law, Alexander Simba’s double life.  Bernard was already suspicious that things weren’t going well with his youngest daughter, Lucy.  Bernard, warm and devoted cat that he was, loved his entire family but held a soft spot for two of his daughters in particular; Lucy Cougar Simba and Dr. Sylly Cougar Lyon.  He had noticed Lucy’s frailty this past week especially. 

“Syl, I’m going to have to speak with Alex.  What do you think?”

“Berns, I would speak to Lucy first.  See what she wants you to do,” was his wife’s advice.

Sylvia admits to Bernard the problems Lucy is facing.....

            President Ralph Lyon is leaving more and more to his vice president these days.  He takes at least two days a week to play golf with his best friend and former vice president, Bernard Cougar.  Bernard is trying to convince Ralph to build a home in Mombasa so he and Mildred can join Sylvia and him on weekends. 

“You know how I feel about water, Berns,” said Ralph, attempting to sink a put. 

“Ralph, you don’t have to go near the water.  Just the atmosphere in that place is astonishing.  The ocean breezes are the finest.  Syl and I have another piece of land on the beach that we can sell you and Millie.  Dorian and Cynthia (Cheetah) are on the other side of us.  It’ll be like old times.   Remember the fun we used to have?”

“You’ve won me over, Berns.  I’ll speak to Millie about it tonight.  But don’t try to get me in that damn ocean and that includes that hellish boat of yours,” roared Ralph. 

“That’s a promise, Ralph,” laughed Bernard. 

    Clint Cougar and his new bride Chelsea Cheetah Cougar were home from their honeymoon.  Chelsea had learned to chew tobacco much to her parent’s horror.  They seemed captivated with each other.  The prima ballerina returned to her job as dance director for the arts center.  She took over the reigns once again and regained her firm management of the excitable Jean Pierre de Leon.  Everyone looked forward to the house warming bash to be held at the couple’s new and very brilliant house.  Clint had designed it and the home was said to one of the most amazing designs in Kenya.    

            I was thrown more into working with Shane Simba since Ralph was relinquishing so much of the on going administration to him.  I also sensed the new repose in him.  I had worked with Shane while Catherine still lived.  Ralph had made him the top minister before pushing him to the chief position under his presidency.  Shane had been edgy and tense at that time.  Now he was relaxed, bantering with those around him in an easy and high spirited manner.  I had loved Catherine, making her the director of my memorial to Lawrence, but I realized that with Betty the young lion was taking on a whole new ambience.  I also recognized that after a notorious history of playing around, he would call Betty just before leaving the State House and ask her what she wanted to do that evening, telling her that he was on his way.  Those of us, who loved Betty, kept our fingers crossed.  So far, the marriage seemed to be functioning brilliantly. 

            Alexander Simba was finally allowed back in the bedroom of his extra marital love, Linda Cougar, after a week or so of her ban resulting from the disappointment at his reaction to her pregnancy.  He called and found her in her condo.  Forgetting to pick up his wife, Lucy, at her parent’s home, he barreled at top speed toward the condos and Linda. 

            Lucy sat with her parents in their garden and wondered where her husband was.  Bernard began to check his watch.  He had just returned from the sporting club and a golf game with Ralph.  Sylvia looked nervous.  Lucy began to cry.  Bernard patted his daughter’s paw. 

“Lucy, why don’t you spend the night here? We’ll apprise your delinquent husband of your whereabouts,” snarled Bernard. 

“Poppy, I’m so miserable,” sobbed Lucy. 

“I know you are, Luce. Why don’t we go in the den and talk about this?”

Bernard and Lucy went to discuss her problems.  Sylvia kept a tense ear awaiting the doorbell.