PAIRINGS AND PARTINGS
Some men are so macho they'll get you pregnant just to kill a rabbit.
Maureen Murphy
Betty Simba received some very heartening news. Her new book on Rhonda Rhino had hit the bookshelves at Barnes & Noble, among others, and was selling well. Her publishers asked Betty to come to New York again and do some autographing and public appearances at B & N in Manhattan. Discussing the matter at the dinner table that evening, Shane encouraged her to go. The evening meal was chatty and filled with Betty’s enthusiasm for her new project which would benefit the Anti-Poaching Program in Kenya. The matter of the aircraft was easily solved the next day when Shane purchased a first class ticket on Kenya Airways which would be set apart to afford the First Lady and her guards’ privacy.
Chloe Cougar, after a brief and very hedonistic vacation in the jet setting stomping grounds of St. Tropez, was back at work on another film. She, Simone Serval and Micah Mbube were in the midst of costume fittings and rehearsals for the film Chicago. She had been a major hit in the stage version that ran two weeks at the arts center. Chloe, having lost the clout of being married to studio owner, Roy Lee Simba, was feeling it keenly and at once. Now, she was just another contract player with Micah holding the strongest hand in the inner workings of Baboon-Simba Studios. Chloe wondered if she would ever again find another husband as sexy and powerful as Roy Lee Simba.
Shane went with Betty in the official helicopter to Nairobi where she would catch her flight to New York. He kissed her goodbye and wished her much luck on her sales. He then boarded his helicopter which lifted off immediately considering it contained the president. Betty was escorted in the usual VIP style to her flight. Relaxing with a drink in the separated first class section of the Kenya Airways 747, she examined the fact that his farewell could have been given to any friend or family member. It had certainly lacked the intimacy of a husband seeing his wife off on a transcontinental trip.
The next day President Shane Simba boarded Simba One for a journey to England to meet with Tony Blair. It was to be a jaunt of several days, only. The British Prime Minister, having observed the traveling with great success of our lion president, wanted to talk with him. It would be a toss up as to which would pick the other’s brain. Shane boarded first with his Masai moran, followed by members of the press and media. Jane boarded, sitting far to the back.
The 747 took off and made a deep bank toward the west. Shane sat and drank with several of the reporters. Jane kept to herself, making notes on her lap top computer and studying the junket papers.
In a quiet divorce, Caroline Cheetah Leoparde parted from her husband, Leland Leoparde. Leland was not terribly happy about this turn of events. He loved the complex cheetah. Nevertheless, Caroline, with one of her few attacks of conscience, couldn’t bear to live with Leland and not love him as she did Sloane Simba. She returned to her leased apartment which is now occupied by her brother, Curtis Cheetah. Seeing the forlorn aspects of his sister, he decided to stay there with her for awhile. The apartment was a lovely and spacious one, being owned by Lucy Cougar. There was plenty of room for brother, sister and Caroline’s growing son, Sonny, to live together.
Curtis Cheetah treated his sister to dinner at the Watering Hole Pub. It was the weekend after her return to the apartment. The pub was filled with revelry of the kind only a full moon produces in animals. High spirits kept company with increasing amounts of testosterone and estrogen. The noise level was intense. The siblings made their way to the bar. Caroline was looking her usual glamorous, long limbed, reed slender self. The first to notice and make a beeline was Simon Simba.
The Friday that marked the first date for Dick Simba and Caitlin Cougar was a star studded wonder. Dick rang the doorbell holding two bottles of very good wine for his hostess. Caitlin led him to her walled terrace which was dressed for the occasion with a tray laden with drink preparations and canapés. After several drinks the couple wandered through Caitlin’s elegant home. Dick was impressed with the taste and artifacts that lived within the four walls of Caitlin’s house on Leoparde Drive. Georgy came down in her pajamas to greet her uncle she had met before. Young Carly followed. Simon, although uncle to Carly, had never met him since the young cub’s father, Steven Simba, rarely had him for a visit. In fact, the little male cub, was an unknown factor to Dick, Caitlin not having made mention of his existence. Caitlin kissed her cubs goodnight as Georgy led her little brother up the stairs and to their rooms. Caitlin showed Dick through her studio where she created her increasing salable sculptures.
After a dinner of steaks, potato casserole and wilted spinach salad, Caitlin and Dick pulled back from the iron table on the patio and lit cigarettes.
“You didn’t tell me you had two children, Caitlin. Your son has the look of a lion cub,” observed Dick.
“He is half so. Carly is the son of Steven Simba.”
“Were you married to Steven?”
“No, I wasn’t. I didn’t want to be. Sloane hurt me immeasurably so I didn’t want marriage any more. Now Sloane and I are becoming great friends.”
“You’re fulfilled with a single life with children?”
“Yes, I believe I am. I have a great support system. My mom and dad just moved here from Montana. They’re close neighbors of yours. I have other family here as well.”
“Are you bent on bearing your children with the assistance of the Simba pride?”
She was quiet and Dick realized that question had probably verged on the side of cheekiness.
“I’m sorry, Caitlin, that was rather rude of me.”
“It’s alright, Dick. I probably won’t have more by any pride. I have a son and a daughter and that should complete my single family.”
“You don’t get lonely for an adult?”
“Yes and that’s why you are here.”
“I would very much like to make love to you, Caitlin. You are an astonishing female.”
“I want to make love you too, Dick.”
“Can you come to my house tomorrow for dinner?”
“I will.”
In the Le Meridien Grosvenor House hotel in London, a soft knock sounded on the door of the Presidential Suite.
“My God, Janie, I thought the day would never end,” moaned Shane Simba into Jane, the lioness reporter’s neck. “I have wanted to be with you so badly all day.”
“I’m here now,” she murmured into his shirt front. “Our world is right again.”
the lovers in London....
A clash of Titans was about to occur and the dastardly aspect was the full moon. Chloe Cougar made her way to the bar in the pub with blood in her eye – the blood of a female desirous of amorous activity and a hot male. She managed a place next to Simon Simba whose attentions were focused on the ravishing and newly divorced Caroline Cheetah. Chloe had already met Simon who was a dead ringer for her ex-husband, Roy Lee. She had planned to have much more of the extraordinary Simon’s action but there seemed to be a problem tonight. Caroline Cheetah had one slender, silken hosed leg propped on the bar rung and Simon was stoking it. Chloe put a paw up and fluffed her bleached locks. Simon looked around for a brief moment and acknowledged the actress’ presence with something other than delight. There almost seemed to be a frown on his handsome face which to Chloe was the epitome of leonine beauty. After several more drinks by all parties, Simon took Caroline to his town house. They were seen no more. A sullen Chloe drank up as Caroline’s brother, Curtis searched for his sister.
“She’s shacked up with Simon Simba,” informed Chloe.
Curtis seemed vaguely disturbed for a matter of minutes. He ordered another drink for himself and eyeballed the flashy and bombastic Chloe. As has been reported, the moon was full in the sky which causes reactions in most organisms. Curtis Cheetah was no exception.
“Did you have your eye on any other males for the evening or will I do?” he asked Chloe.
Chloe looked at the handsome cheetah lawyer.
“I guess you’ll have to do.”
“Could you be kinder? I know your original intent was for one of those male lions. I don’t want to be considered seconds.”
“Oh, you aren’t,” she purred, checking a fleck on one polished ruby claw.
At that moment, Leland Leoparde joined his best friend and former brother-in-law at the bar. The two got to talking, went to a table to drink, leaving Chloe at the bar. Leland and Curtis made the decision to go to Tony’s Disco and check out the action there. Chloe was still looking around the room when they made their exit.
Betty stayed for three days in New York City. She signed autographs for book buyers at Barnes & Noble until her arms ached the night through. She dined in several restaurants of note but was alone and loathed every minute of it. The last day she checked out early and took the Kenya Airways flight home. Upon arrival she found that her husband was in England on talks with Tony Blair.
On a Kenya Airways flight, Lachlan and I had just departed that morning. Our destination was the south of France with a brief side trip to the coast of Italy. We were as excited as two little children on a school romp. At last he had a vacation and I joined him.
Betty, having seen her youngest son, Solly, to his bed, sat alone in the family room of the State Mansion. Her stepdaughter, Staci Simba, was on a weekend trip to an AIDS stricken village. Her sons were at their father, Sam Simba’s home. Sean, her stepson, was spending the night with a school pal. Betty paced about the room, holding a drink and cigarette. She couldn’t remember when she had felt more abandoned, bereft and depressed. She tried music and television but both seemed to only make stronger her sad emotions. She sat down, lit her fifth cigarette and dialed her ex-husband, Montecore, at his discothèque. The white tiger was happy to hear his ex-wife’s voice.
“Monte, I’m here at the State Mansion alone. The rest of the family is gone. Please come and keep me company.”
He detected the tears in her voice and consented to come right away.
A fire blazed in the hearth at the mansion. Montecore sat with Betty on the long couch that faced it.
“Betty, if you are unhappy a divorce is not impossible. Even presidents get them,” chuffed Montecore.
“I love Shane too damn much and we just had a baby, Monte. I think he is the one that has gone away from me emotionally although he is here each evening when he is not on an official jaunting.”
“Betty, you knew the in and outs of Shane Simba long before you married him. All I can say is if you are suffering get out of the marriage.”
“I will never leave him, Monte. I adore him and have wanted him too long for that.”
She began to cry while the white tigers patted her shoulder with huge paws.
Betty and her ex-husband, Montecore, in the family room at the mansion...
Arlon Lyon checked his watch. He was on spring break from his London school and had decided to surprise his family. The cause for his angst was the delay in the commuter flight which would take him to the Masai Mara from Nairobi. He now wished he had told his father to pick him up in Nairobi. As he was frothing at the bit of youthful impatience, his flight was called. He boarded and fell asleep as the plane ascended into a bumpy sky. His first stop would be his father and Leah's home. Then he planned a stay of several days with his grandparents, Ralph and Mildred Lyon. He was still snoozing as the small jet hit the runway in the Masai Mara and taxied to the small airport.
He managed to get a taxi to Ashley and Leah's house. They welcomed him joyouosly, both being still awake. They wanted to hear all about his schooling and plans. They stayed up until the sky peaked red with approaching dawn. He had no idea that his mother, a few miles away, was still crying in a bed that didn't hold her husband. Shane Simba had not returned from London.