Maurice & Friends

I had no resolution for my sadness and broken heart. Lachlan had failed to call and I surely wasn’t going to call him – I was hurt beyond belief. Betty Chimpo and I were at her home one late afternoon. Shane was on a one day trip to Nairobi to address the parliament.

“Maury, somehow, I don’t think the situation is the same with Lachlan as it was with Lawrence Leoparde. I don’t sense the same yearning for space that Lawrence held so dear,” said Betty, lighting a cigarette.

“I think Lachlan has become a bit unhinged with this bush life and wanting to be a planter. I think you’re right, Betts, it wasn’t intent to hurt or wanting to be on his own but it still brings me much heartache.”

“I know, Maury, but I think it will all be resolved and you two will be together again. I wish I didn’t have so many doubts about Shane.”

“Betts, I believe he has really changed his ways.”

“If only I could figure what happened to his marriage with Alexandra. He adored her. I can’t understand why he just let that one go.”

“Alex was controlling, Betts. I saw Shane chafing under the bit. She did it all with much savoir fair but still it was a control thing. You and Shane were not that way. You argued because you didn’t want to organize each other and you were an independent career animal.”

“That and pregnancy added to Shane’s proclivity for adultery.”

“I swear I think you two can make it this time, Betts.”

“You really believe this? I feel the same about you and Lachlan.”

Jerrilyn Jackal Scar, owner of Jackal Realty..

Jerrilyn Jackal Scar, the owner of the realty that Shane Simba had rented his property on Leoparde Drive through, did some detective work of her own. She found that the George Lowenstein that had rented the house which Shane’s ex-wife, Alexandra, was living in was actually her new husband’s alias - the lion trophy hunter that Shane had deported from Kenya and whom Alex had married in Namibia.

“Get her out of there, Jerrilyn,” commanded Shane. “I will issue an eviction notice now.”

“I will turn that over to the proper authorities, President Simba. Sorry about the slip up,” answered the sharp little jackal married to a lion of her own.

The ‘proper authority’ groaned as he received the eviction notice. It fell to police chief, Bubba Simba to deal with the presidential muddle. He was eating barbecue on his lunch hour and felt royally pissed that he had to throw Alexandra Delamere and his nephew, Sacha, from the house on Leoparde Drive. He took his chief deputy Carson Cougar with him. Carson was not a bit happy with the assignment. He smelled trouble.

Chloe Cougar had worked her way through two baskets and twelve group therapy sessions in the rehab section of the Mental Health Clinic. She was the patient of Dr. Lachlan Lion who was no happy camper either.

“I’m discharging you today, Chloe. You’ve done well. Don’t back track or you’ll lose the opportunity to work in film and on stage again,” he cautioned.

Two days later, she was in the office of Christine Cheetah Mbube singing Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, the main song from Evita. Christine had called her husband, actor Micah Mbube to the audition. Christine is the director of the arts center that I had founded after Lawrence’s death.

“With some additional lessons, we should be able to do this play and use you in the title lead,” said Christine.

Chloe Cougar could barely choke out her thanks. This was her dream come true. After Chloe had left, Micah called Roy Lee Simba with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Chloe leaves the arts center in a happy mood.....

Lachlan was in the field having just kicked his tractor’s tire. He wiped the sweat from his brow and went to the house. He showered and drove to town.
He came directly to my office in the State House. I looked up to see his tall figure and almost cried.

“Maury, I’ve fucked up in doing this farming thing. I’ll buy a place in town and you can return to your home along with me when it’s available – if you’ll consent to have me again.”

I stood and went to hug him, tears streaming down my face. We held each other a long time.

“We can stay at Betty’s house. I think she has plans of her own. We can move back to our place when it’s available. And of course I want you back in my life. I love you so much,” I told him brokenly.

“I never meant to hurt you, Maury, with that damn lioness. I just went kind of crazy.”

“I know that, Lach,” I told him, holding him tightly to me.

Shane Simba and Lewis Lyon took the farm off our hands and paid real farmers to grow crops and tend them. They set up a charity to give the poor the agricultural gains from the land.

The sinking sun shone in black lights from his mane as he stood silhouetted on the high bank of the Mara River. A slight figure came toward him. They were both clad simply, he in a cotton shirt and slacks and she in a simple linen dress of a soft color. Standing there were the Reverend Calvin Cheetah, Sam Simba and me. Shane Simba held out his hand to Betty Chimpo who was trembling all over again as she had the first time. He pulled her to him and the ceremony began after I handed her a bouquet of roses.

After the simple and lovely ceremony, we went into Sam and Tawny Simba’s home for a celebratory bottle or two of champagne.

Betty with her wedding bouquet.....

Their honeymoon was entirely different this time. They invited all their children along. Lewis Lyon loaned Shane his jumbo jet. They went to Shane’s villa in Cap Ferrat in the south of France. Along for the excursion were the bride and groom, Tarek, Jalil, Tanya, Sacha with Solly Simba joining his parent’s for a weekend during their wedding trip. Arlon Lyon declined due to work, as did Staci Simba who would join them for a weekend. Sean Simba also declined the offer. Joining them from England would also be Betty’s sons and Shane’s nephews, Jason and Joshua Simba from her marriage to Sam Simba. It was one big happy affair and marked a new beginning for the turbulent couple whose bond had lasted the years.

the newly weds share a tender moment in France...

Shane with son, Sacha, in France on the boat..

And with wife, Betty, at his villa......

Betty takes time to sun topless at the villa...

In the darkness of their room in the French villa, Shane and Betty smoked cigarettes and drank champagne.

“Are you happy Betty Chimpo Simba?” he asked, stroking her arm.

“You just don’t know the half of it, darling,” she answered.

“Me too, Fifi – it’s going to be so different this time. I promise this.”

Ashley Lyon flew his ex-wife and their two children to spend the weekend in Cap Ferrat. Shane’s illegitimate son with Caroline Cheetah, Sonny Simba, was along for the flight in one of Ashley’s larger planes. Upon Solly’s arrival from London, he was driven straight to the villa by a driver.

“I see you scored again, Dad, congratulations,” laughed Solly, patting his father on the back.

They all spent time on Shane’s private yacht. It was a deliriously happy occasion for all of them. Plenty of family joy and warm sun – and don't let me leave out the sea.

Ashley and Staci in France enjoying the honeymoon of her dad and Ashley's ex-wife....

Alexandra is irate at the eviction notice...

Alexandra Simba was irate about having to move from Shane’s house on Leoparde Drive. Her son, Sacha, was already on his dad’s honeymoon with Betty so Bubba and Carson didn’t have to do the foul deed with him. Alexandra immediately went to the house on Lamu Island which she had won in the divorce.

Bubba Simba and his deputy, Carson Cougar, attend the house problem...

Cutty takes a firm hand in her marriage to Dickey....

Cutty Sark Simba having heard the news of Betty and Shane’s marriage went to the patio where her husband lay sprawled on a chaise lounge. Dickey was smoking a cigarette and feeling very glum.

“Dickey, Betty married Shane again so you are going to have to make the best of the fact that we are married and expecting a child. Alex has been kicked out of her digs next door so things are squaring up for you to be more attentive. We can start by going out to dinner at some nice restaurant.”

“Whatever, Cutty….”

“What a dick you are.”

Roy Lee Simba had been in need of a new role in either films or stage. When Micah called and asked him to play the male lead opposite Chloe Cougar in Evita, he leapt at the chance. This would be a challenge. Roy Lee Simba, super hero of films, would tackle a major singing role. This would be fun.

“You certainly forgive easily,” sniped Bertram Baboon upon hearing of my reunion with Lachlan.

We were having drinks on his patio, Lachlan and I, for the time being, living in Betty's house on Leoparde Drive.

“That is what life is about, Bertram - loving and caring means forgiving on occasion,” I informed him.

“Hmmmph!” was his response.

When I returned to Betty’s I took an outraged call from her dear friend and colleague, Wilda Wildebeest.

“Maurice, how could you allow Betty to marry that damned lion for a second time – the sorry bastard will hurt her all over again?” honked Wilda.

“It was entirely Betty’s idea, Wilda and I do think Shane Simba has changed.”

“Bullshit, leopards don’t change their spots,” she argued.

“Shane is not a leopard, Wilda.”

“Hell no, he’s worse than that.”

They returned to the Mara to find the house annexed to the State House property was almost finished. They settled in the bush house. Shane had tried to convince his daughter, Staci, to move out of my house and move to the one originally intended for her – next door to Dickey and Cutty Simba.

“Daddy, you’re getting a little bossy, aren’t you? The kids love Maurice’s house. I’ll just keep it for the year and move to the other one later,” argued Staci.

“Staci, I’ll do the thing over and make the yard great for Cathy and little Shane. Maurice really needs his house.”

“I like the house too, Daddy, I’m not moving right now.”

She stood her ground and I didn’t really blame her.

That evening her ever present ex-husband, Ashley Lyon, was there with Staci and his cubs.

“Daddy is pushing me to move out of Maurice’s house and return to the house next door to Uncle Dickey,” groused Staci. “And I’m not going to do that.”

“What’s wrong with doing that, Staci?”

“That end of the block has become a cesspool with my dead grandmother Simba’s house occupied by that dreadful Aunt Goosey and Dickey sleeping around on Cutty just next door..ugh!”

“What your dad needs to do is reclaim his mom’s house, move Leander back to the pride territory and give you Sarah Lee’s mansion. It’s right next door to Roy Lee and his place is a trophy home,” suggested Ashley.

“Damn, Ash, you can be so brilliant sometimes – that’s a great idea,” she said, hugging his neck.

When Staci repeated Ashley's idea to her father, Betty chimed in.

“Shane, Aunt Leander can live with us. She’s been like a mother to you. We will have plenty of room in our new house. Wouldn’t she like that?”

“What a wonderful idea. Betty Simba, do you have any idea how much I love you?” asked Shane.

“No, tell me again…and again…and again.”