The evening was clear and cool when we held the first ballet in the new Catherine Simba Memorial Auditorium. A scholarship was to be presented to a student of the arts. The scholarship, also named for Catherine Simba, was a sizable one, having been created by her widower, Vice President Shane Simba. Before the curtains lifted on the ballet, I presented the scholarship to young sculptor who was a Masai tribal member. He was very emotional, having known Catherine in her capacity as Director. She had helped him with his application to study in Europe.

    The ballet was quite lovely. One would never have guessed the ongoing friction between Chelsea Cheetah, principal female dancer, and Jean Pierre de Leon, principal male dancer, once they were on stage. Their interaction was powerful and exquisite as they danced together the main pas de deux from Swan Lake. They got seven curtain calls with bouquets tossed on the stage, signaling audience appreciation.

    Later, at the cocktail dinner that we had as a first night event, I saw Betty Chimpo with Shane Simba. They had his daughter, Staci, with them. She had gone on stage with me for the presentation of the scholarship in her deceased mother’s name. She had handed the envelope containing the check to the grateful Masai lad. It had been a moving moment. Bertram Baboon was there with his lover, Chad Cheetah, although they had ended their live-in arrangement. I was there with Lachlan Lion. I spoke to Dorian and Cynthia Cheetah. He had gotten very emotional at the entire line up of events. First I had spoken of the reasons we had named the new addition for Catherine and then his grandcub had presented the scholarship in her name. Dorian was still having a difficult time dealing with the death of his vibrant and creative daughter, Catherine. Dorian was under Lachlan’s counsel trying to come to grips with his grief.

    I must say a word about Christine Cheetah, the one who replaced Catherine as director. She looked wonderful as she spoke a few words, initially, to the audience. She has gotten the bit between her teeth in this job and is proving to be as creative as her late sister in running the show. This new auditorium was her brain child and has proved to be a very good one. Until we had the new addition, we had to stagger ballets and stage plays. Now we can do both. two months from now, Micah Mbube will be in a play which will run in the same time period as a new ballet.

"What has happened to Maurice, the artist?" asked Lachlan.

We were in Mombasa having dinner at his home.

"I suppose I have too much on my plate right now to put a lot into it."

"Or, it could be, that having worked through your grief for Lawrence, you no longer need it."

"I hadn’t thought of that, Lachlan. You may be right."

"You can always paint and sculpt when the mood strikes you, Maury. Just do it at your leisure."

"I am planning on showing at the arts center very soon. Christine is very insistent on me doing that."

"You should. You’re very talented."

"I can thank you for my happiness these days."

"No, it’s me that owes you thanks, Maurice."

Chloe Cougar Simba was not far from giving birth to a litter of two. Her other two had been single births. Now the sonograms showed a male and female cub growing nicely in their mother’s womb. She was resting on her laurels these days, having had two very successful films recently. Lewis Lyon Construction had almost completed the new home that replaced the old house on the lot Roy Lee had purchased on Leoparde Drive. This house was more elaborate and had the necessary space for their children as well as a screening room for Roy Lee's invited guests to view his latest movies. Chloe and Roy Lee were also getting along nicely after an episode in which he was intrigued with Simone Serval and impregnated her. That was all past them now and the aging superstar was happy that he didn’t have to change boats in midstream again in his life.

Chloe awaits the big event.....

Sam Simba and Allison Scar got married at Sam’s river home with the Reverend Saul Serval officiating. It was a low key wedding. For some reason, Bertram Baboon and I were invited. There was a small gathering which included most of the Simba pride. The exceptions were Shane and Tookie. Sarah Lee sat weeping in a corner. Her sister, Leander, kept handing her tissue. Old Scar was dressed up and had come with his son, Oscar and daughter-in-law, Jerrilyn Jackal Scar. I’ve always loved Jerrilyn. We got to chat at the reception on Sam’s lawn facing the Mara River. Oscar is the bride’s brother. Sam’s sons, Jason and Joshua were scampering around the grounds. It was a lovely occasion and the bride and groom looked very happy.

Caroline Cheetah, being the news director for the Masai Mara Daily, had access to their archives. She was on a mission in the basement of that building. She was looking for old photographs of Betty Chimpo before her body and facial make over. She knew she’d find them since Betty had begun her career as a reporter for that paper. She was on the floor in front of some massive filing cabinets going through material of that era. She hit pay dirt. There were five or six of Betty interviewing various news worthy figures of that time. She made copies and took them to her office. She had a plan.

Christine Cheetah planned dinner in her home. She and her lover, Micah Mbubé were going to decide on his next play for the arts center this evening. The atmosphere would be conducive since Chris Simba had all five cubs that weekend, having taken them earlier on his way to Mombasa.

    Micah arrived early, smelling of the same Dior men’s cologne that so appealed to Christine. They went to her study and starting going over potential material for him to choose.

"I would like to do  Shakespeare again, Chrissie. Catherine let me do Hamlet and it was a sell out. Why not stage Macbeth this time around?"

"Do you want to do that, Micah? I want a play that will be successful but will also make you happy."

"I think Macbeth will be a winner."

"Macbeth, it is then. Shall we go to dinner and later......you know what?"

"Sounds wonderful.......especially the ‘you know what’ part," he laughed, pinching her shapely fanny.

Caroline Cheetah waited until Shane Simba finished his tennis game with Lewis Lyon before she approached him.

"Shane, can you give me a few minutes of your time?"

"Yeah. What is it, Caroline?"

She pulled some photographs from a manila folder and handed them to him. He looked at all of them then slapped them back in her paw.

"I see them, what’s your point?"

His khaki eyes were glacier cold and filled with thinly  disguised fury.

"Do you know who they are?"

She was getting nervous.

"Betty Chimpo, I believe."

His face was beginning to take on a feral look. She could feel his anger. It was almost palpable.

"Did you know she used to look like that, Shane?"

"I grew up in the Mara. I saw Betty on many a newscast before her make over. I’ll ask again. What’s your goddamn point?"

"Well, I know you are seeing her these days. And I just wondered if you had known how unattractive she was before all that work."

"Tell Bob Bushbuck not to bother to get clearance for you on the official planes for my trips, Caroline. I won’t give the permission."

"W-why?" she stammered.

"You’re a cunt!"

Betty before the body and facial make over and as she looks today......

"Oh, shit!" squealed Chelsea Cheetah. "You didn’t!"

Caroline was sitting in her cottage with a drink, wiping her sniffling nose with a tissue. She had just told her sister of the debacle with Shane Simba at the sporting club.

"Yes, I did," she said, breaking down in a freshet of tears.

"God, how stupid and really bitchy, Caroline. That was improvident of you. Your news reporting career is fucked now with no access to Shane Simba. He’s what’s happening these days in Kenya. "

"Oh, please don’t go there right now. I’m already toooo distressed," she sobbed.

"What did you expect him to do when he saw the pictures?"

"Leave her, of course."

"For you?" asked Chelsea.

She lit a cigarette and began to laugh.

"Yes. What’s so damn funny, Chel?"

"Betty doesn’t look like that anymore so why was he supposed to care, dummy?"

"Oh, I don’t know. I fucked up big time."

"You shore as shit did."

"You’re picking up all those Americanisms from Clint Cougar," snarled Caroline.

"Don’t go starting on him now. Your ass will be tossed in my front yard if you do."

"I saw some pictures of you in your former fuzzy wuzzy state, Sunday morning, Fifi," laughed Shane.

He and Betty were in her pool. He told her of seeing Caroline and being shown the photographs.

"Oh no, were you shocked?" she giggled.

"Hell no! I know you’re a chimpanzee and they aren’t exactly born looking the way you do now. I used to see you on newscasts.  We all have our pasts.  When I was growing up, we Simbas lived in the wild more or less. I still have fly marks and tick scars on my hide. You just have to look under the Armani and Versace gear to find them. All of us have just been out of the wild a few years. We’re entitled to our deep dark secrets," he teased.

"Did you think I was too awful?" she asked, with a chuckle.

"No, not at all. I thought you were good material for a really posh, upscale zoo. One with lots of ropes and monkey bars to hang from," he laughed, just before she dunked him.

The following weekend, Betty invited Wilda Wildebeest to go with her to Mombasa. Shane would be in residence in his home there. Betty invited Shane and his children to have dinner with her the first night. Arlon was there and he and Staci engaged in a marathon session of video games. Sean watched and participated when he was allowed. After dinner, Betty, Wilda and Shane sat on her patio with brandy. The night was clear and lovely with the usual African stars glowing in the deep sky. They talked pleasantly of personal and political subjects. Shane left with his children, whispering to Betty that he would return as soon as he saw them to bed.

"I see him all the time at the State House, Betts, but I’ve never known him on a social level. He’s absolutely charming and lots of fun too."

"He seems more relaxed than he used to be, Willie."

"Everyone at the State House says this too. Ralph thinks it’s because of you.  El Presidenté thinks you two will end up married."

"Oh, that would be the culmination of my dreams. I’m afraid I've not always remain devoted to males I love.  I tend to feel suffocated but with Shane, it’s so different. I can’t get enough of him, Willie."

"That’s what it’s all about, Betty."

Ashley and Lewis Lyon sat in their father's office in the State House after hours. 

"Dad, I think maybe the Lyon pride ought to incorporate like the Simbas did for business reasons," suggested Ashley.

Ralph removed his glasses and cleaned the lens with his handkerchief.  He returned them to his face before answering. 

"I don't think that, Ash.  Lion prides used to be about loyalty, affection, being together in good and bad times.  I remember those days, boys.  I like to think we Lyons still have those qualities.  I don't feel the need to incorporate.  It has a cold ring to my mind.  If you don't agree, say so."

"You know, Dad.  You have a real point," answered Ashley.

"You always do, Dad," added Lewis. "You are exactly right."