Maurice & Friends

Betty Chimpo was deep in thought. She had the two sexiest male lions in Kenya wanting her badly. She adored both. On top of this invigorating fact, she had completed final grading for her students in three creative writing courses and was about to receive a five week semester break from Kenya University. She had just seen her oldest son with Shane Simba off for early university schooling in England. Her first born, Arlon Lyon, was staying with her and could attend the house. Betty looked great but was dealing with an age factor. Time for a bit of cosmetic sprucing under tiger cosmetic surgeon, Todd Tigeres, in his very private clinic deep in the bush country of the Mara. She dialed the number and waited as the receptionist plugged into the appropriate department at the clinic. As Todd Tigeres most famous example of his genius in the operating room, Betty was put on the front burner and told to pack her bags for the necessary stay in the secluded hospital.

It seems that with Kenya’s turbulence behind us, we are in a partying mood. Saved from the jaws of chaos, we animals are celebrating a stable nation with an animal leader – President Shane Simba. We seem very giddy at the moment but so be it. What could have befallen us in a civil upheaval of our government is not something that animals or humans even want think about. All we have to do is view examples such as Zimbabwe or Somalia to get a bead on what anarchy leads to in sub-Saharan African nations. So, with a profound sense of relief, both animals and people are feeling very, very festive at the moment. Anything will do for an excuse to create a mind boggling soiree – fashion, film, politics, boutique openings or merely animals and humans wealthy enough to host them. Lachlan and I have to wade through the invitations each evening when we arrive home. I, being Shane Simba’s chief of staff and Lachlan in his role as beloved shrink as well as restaurant owner, seem to get them all. That’s okay; the days of horror and tension are still within easy memory. Good to be alive and happy again.

One of the most odd ball romances of the Mara is going on as I speak. Gerald Giraffe, part owner of the fitness center, RUNNERS, is having an ongoing affair with Duke the clothing designer and partner at JAGGERS fashion emporium. Now Gerald, being a giraffe, can hardly afford to be clothes conscious. When not in Adidas sportswear while working, Gerald tends to wear a series of colorful muumuus which drape his tall, awkward body. Duke, on the other hand, is the height of dizzying male couture with his slippers and zany outfits. To emphasize the seriousness of the affair, Duke is adding rooms with vaulted ceilings to his elaborate Mara home. Gerald already inhabits a very pricey barn near Charlotte Elephanti’s humongous digs. Felix and Oscar are alive in well in the Masai Mara – at least their animal counterparts.

Gerald Giraffe and his significant other, Duke the lion designer.....

Good heavens to Betsy! Ashley Lyon, practicing absolutely no discretion, has moved his lover Cutty Sark into the bush home he built for his current wife, Staci Simba and their cubs. Cutty is very subdued at work. After all, she is the press secretary of the male whose son-in-law she is shagging. On the advice of her shrink, Dr. Rory Lion, Staci Simba Lyon, having filed for a divorce despite her uncle’s recommendations, has purchased a lot near her uncle, Dickey Simba’s new residence on Leoparde Drive and plans to build a home.

Whoa there! Our president, Shane Simba, being on very rocky ground with his estranged wife, Alexandra Simba, tossed more stones on the path. For those of you that have paid attention, Alexandra is human and an accomplished horsewoman. Alexandra, having left her husband’s abode with her children, is spending time in horseback riding competitions of a high profile nature. Shane Simba, in an in-depth interview on Kenyan television, announced that horses should be free to do as they please and not be made to bow down to their riders nor be owned. He condemned the Kentucky Derby along with horse racing in general and other sports regarding horses. With that declaration he received rapt and devoted attention from zebra herds, among them Zelda Zebra, the original animal activist in these parts. Fan male poured in from horses in other countries, our broadcast being made global. On a less pleasant front, his own daughter, Staci Simba Lyon, is a horseback rider. Her mare, Elizabeth, also happens to be one of Staci’s confidantes. Staci was rather perturbed at her dad’s barbs regarding equestrians.

Betty slipped in her back door one late evening just fourteen days after having undergone a bit of cosmetic intervention. Only her son, Arlon Lyon and her friend and baboon housekeeper, Babs, were allowed to be around her until all signs of surgery had disappeared. She relaxed and made calls on her cell phone to Shane and Dickey stating that she was in still in New York working with her editor. Of course, I, being a neighbor and long time pal, was admitted to the sanctuary. I brought flowers and joined Betty for drinks. She still wore a scarf which concealed all but the most obvious facial parts, such as eyes, nose and mouth. I couldn’t tell a thing. You would have thought that Betty had embraced Islam, her head gear being rather prominent.

Dr. Rory Lion held Tanya Simba tightly against her bedroom door. They were both naked and bathed in the sultry light of a small lamp. Rory was kissing her bosom and neck. This was the first time the two had connected socially and now it was on to bigger and better things. Rory had eyeballed Tanya from the start, but had gotten hooked on Leah Simba Tarzan as his a client. Now Leah’s hubby was miraculously returned from the dead and the lion psychiatrist had returned to his original turf – which, come to think of it, is pretty hot stuff. Tanya’s bare boob on the runway at JAGGERS had done the trick. Rory had come on to her with such intensity at the cocktail party after the fact, that Tanya could no longer resist the handsome male who also happens to be her neighbor.

Cutty Sark walked the thick carpet into Shane Simba’s presidential office in the State House. She had expected to discuss a press conference but was surprised at the topic he presented instead.

“Uh, Cutty,” he said, standing and adjusting his collar. “I think you and I have an elephant in the room these days. It’s my son-in-law, Ashley Lyon. Are you two serious?”

Cutty bit her lip. This was uncomfortable turf but she had been expecting it at some point.

“I realize Ashley is married to your daughter but, yes, I do love him. I thought you’d never ask, Sir.”

“Are you living with him?” inquired Shane, who already knew that she was.

“Well, yes Sir, I think you must know that. Are you about to fire me?”

The air was sucked out of the room. However, the suffocating moment evaporated when Shane Simba burst into laughter.

“No, Cutty, you’re too damn good for me to do that. And I would never be one to drone on about the moral culpabilities of others.”

“Thank you, Sir,” she said with a grin. “And now about this conference, the animal activists and equestrian world is all agog at your statement on television the other night.”

Shane's press conference on horse abuse while Cutty looks on...

Three things happened yesterday and they were noteworthy. Eight Belles, the courageous filly that died on the race track at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, prompted President Shane Simba to go on national television again and announce that he would work with parliament to ban horse meets and races in Kenya. He followed that by instructing his brother Sam Simba to start divorce proceedings against his wife, Alexandra Delamere Simba. IN ADDITION, Betty Chimpo made her premiere appearance since her cosmetic fix.

The videos whirred and lights flashed as Shane Simba made his way into a reception in the Four Seasons Hotel honoring the corporate heads and influential business owners in Kenya. Holding tightly to his hand was Betty Chimpo. She looked like a zillion bucks with an obvious but not ostentatious breast enhancement. The formerly married couple sat at the head table where Shane gave a welcoming speech to those whose industry had increased Kenya’s wealth. Among those were Lewis Lyon, Roy Lee Simba, Bertram Baboon, Luke Leoparde and Sylvia Cougar. It must have been former mates’ night because Staci Simba Lyon, still in the process of divorcing Ashley, attended with her former mate, Dr. Juma Mnyama. However, she spent the evening dancing with his cohort, Dr. Trevor Tau, another male lion high on the government’s important doctor rolls. On the other hand, Betty and Shane danced like two teenagers just getting engaged at the senior prom. Their dancing was close, sensual and as sizzling as a firecracker. I noticed that Dickey Simba, who escorted Simone Serval, left early.

The 'new' Betty joins follows the presidential lead.....

“So tell me, Fifi, what’s gives between you and Dickey?”

Betty and Shane were in the hot tub in his bush house after the reception.

“I don’t really know, Shane, I am very engrossed with him in some ways but then I still have so much going on for you. I’m sort of confused,” she admitted, stroking his face with lacquered finger tips.

“I guess I can’t fault you on that one…..I’ve spent most of my life in a confused state,” he chuckled.

“And Alexandra - what about her? How did all of that intense love go to hell in a hand basket?”

“She seemed so wonderful and I was wild about her at first but then everything soured when she left Kenya for much of the time when I was in the middle of that damn national crisis. I guess that’s selfish of me, huh?”

“You and I seem to be two animals that are undecided about everything except our careers,” she giggled.

“One thing I do know, Betty, is that I always come back to you when I need someone real in my life.”

“Hmmm, you said real?”

“And drop dead gorgeous too,” he laughed, sliding under her in the steamy water.

They made love encircled by the moss covered walls of the pergola and the night sounds of the bush.

Betty and Shane share his hot tub after the reception....

“I love your house, Dickey,” said the petite actress, Simone Serval. “I could stay in it forever.”

“I’m afraid that’s not feasible, Simone, but I’m glad you approve,” answered Dickey lighting his third cigarette since arriving from the reception.

“Boy, you’re in a piss poor mood,” pouted the dainty feline. “Was it Betty Chimpo clinging to Shane Simba that ticked you off?”

This was salt in a wound that Dickey didn’t care to tackle at this time or with this animal. He went for his bong, but thought better of it.

“I have a pool in the back yard, Simone. Want to skinny dip?”

“Sure, Dickey,” she purred. “Are you coming with me?” she asked, unzipping her party frock.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he answered, removing her lace trimmed see thru bra.

In Betty Chimpo’s house down the street, her son, Arlon Lyon, was engaged in his first hot and heavy love making session since arriving back in the Mara from England. His partner was someone he had picked up at the reception that night. Lee Simba, the daughter of Roy Lee Simba and his former mate, Chloe Cougar, was back in the Mara from a sojourn in France. Lee had been in school when Arlon was still a soccer star for their team. They took advantage of Betty’s Olympic sized pool for a midnight post coital dip.