Maurice & Friends

Shane Simba had made dreadful errors in dealing with the females he loved most deeply. For the interim, at least, he had lost Betty and Jane Leoparde. There were plenty more females that would just adore having Shane Simba on their arm. He was guarded now, never having been accustomed to wives and lovers walking out on him. A bird in the hand, he reasoned, is worth two in the bush. Now he decided to concentrate on Johanna Delacroix. He would start with the fact that his physical attraction to her human beauty was powerful then work from there. She also happened to be pregnant with his child, whatever form that might take. Johanna lacked the intellectual appeal of those females he had loved, but for now he could just read a book. She was gorgeous, available, a known entity and madly in love with him. She also shared his enthusiasm for exhilarating sex.

“Jo, you can move the things you need from your house in Mombasa to the mansion, if you like,” he told her one night in the privacy of his bedroom which he was now sharing with her. “We could easily be in this for the long haul.”

Johanna was thrilled at this turn of events. She hastily made arrangements for her houseboy to bring the remainder of her wardrobe to the Masai Mara. He would also be allowed to attend her despite the fact that his name, being Tarek, would easily be confused with the President’s recently born son, Tarek Simba. Shane sent their three sons, Solly, Tarek and Jalil, to Leoparde Drive where Betty was staying until she fully recovered and returned to Tanzania. With the children gone, Shane took Johanna to the home in Bora Bora that he had purchased as a love nest for Jane to share with him.

The couple in the State mansion...

Cynthia Cheetah was home on Sunday when her granddaughter, Staci Simba, came to call. Cynthia and Dorian Cheetah were enjoying sundowners on their veranda in their townhouse.

“I am engaged,” announced Staci to her pleased grandparents.

“Who is the lucky chap?” asked Dorian.

“Dr. Juma Mnyama, the AIDS doctor, Grandpapa.”

“Oh, Staci, this is so thrilling,” said Cynthia, giving her granddaughter a hug.

“Daddy thought you might help me on the details of my wedding. Daddy says I can blow out all the stops, make it a whopper he tells me.”

“I’ll call your Aunt Janice (Jaguar-Simba) tomorrow and see if she can meet with us about designing a wedding dress for you,” suggested Cynthia.

The Cheetahs spent several hours over cocktails, discussing their granddaughter’s coming nuptials with her.

Betty recovering at her home on Leoparde Drive.....

Betty was getting stronger. She had paid two visits to her doctor, Frank Tigeres, who had put her on oral pain killers instead of injections. Her wounds, though horrific, were healing nicely. She was enjoying her three sons, Solly, Jalil and Tarek. They were staying with her until she returned to Tanzania. The one thing she couldn’t watch on television was the evening newscast which would show footage of Shane with Johanna. It was big news that the First Lady had returned to her home on Leoparde Drive instead of the mansion. All of the schmaltzy press conferences Shane had held lauding his hospitalized wife had made an impact on the public. When he once more escorted Johanna about instead of Betty, it was show time for the paparazzi. They gathered on Leoparde Avenue, hoping to get information from Betty or pictures, at least. What they got was Solly, being taken to and from school in the official limousine with three Masai warriors. They were all silent on the subject of the President and First Lady. No fodder there. The paparazzi waited until a possible break in the ranks led to disclosure.

Shane had last been harassed with Johanna as he entered the first class section of a Kenya Airways 747, headed for connections that would eventually take the couple to Tahiti and the island of Bora Bora.

Ashley Lyon was actually enjoying being single again. He still loved Leah but if she had chosen Trevor Tau, he could finally live with that. At the moment, he wasn’t taking advantage of his bachelor status, spending a great deal of time with Simone Serval. He decided to make a sea change. Having his best pal and business partner living in a major estate in the bush country, Ashley decided to buy some of Luke’s extra land and build his own paradise. Money was not an object. Ashley and Luke had raked in millions with their successful safari clubs in the Mara and Mombasa.

The Watering Hole Pub was throbbing with Wednesday night traffic. Wednesday was the traditional evening for singles to leave work and bar hop in order to meet someone. Lucy Cougar stood at the bar. She realized that the one she had set her sights on, Dr. Trevor Tau, had been ripped off by Leah Simba. She saw a male lion walk toward the bar and realized it was Ashley Lyon; Leah’s soon to be ex-husband. He bellied to the bar next to Lucy. Ashley ordered a triple Scotch. Lucy sized him up. Great mane, drop dead body, gorgeous and dressed expensively but with a studied casualness. He saw her eyeballing him and turned his khaki gaze in her direction.

“I like a good mane on a lion,” she purred.

“You look like a Cougar. Any kin to Chloe?” he asked, upending his drink and offering his glass for another.

“I’m her baby sister - why?”

“Chloe and I are old rehab buddies. She also had the hots for me when she was a kid and I had just returned to the Mara. You don’t look like a baby to me – more of a babe.”

“I can see how that would work,” said Lucy, holding her glass to his. “Chloe having the hots for you, that is.”

“My name is Ashley Lyon.”

“I know who you are, Ashley. You’re always in the paper or on television.”

“I forget that I’m famous….especially since the Simbas came into power,” he chuckled.

“You’re much hotter than a Simba. I should know, I’m divorced from one,” announced Lucy.

“Which one?”

“A minor one.”

“Oh right, I saw you at one of Leah’s grandmother’s Sunday lunches….you were married to, uh……….,” stalled Ashley trying to recall.

“Alexander.”

Lucy and Ashley chatted pleasantly and continued to imbibe, Ashley with Scotch and Lucy with her Cosmopolitans. Around 11:00 pm, Ashley put a paw on one of Lucy’s amble boobs.

“Wanna go to my place, Lucy?”

“I’d love to, Ashley.”

Ashley enjoys Lucy's hot tub facing the Mara River.....

Shane and Johanna relaxed on the beach in front of his bungalow during the morning. The paparazzi had a field day. They managed to hide among the lush tropical foliage and get some great shots. Shane windsurfed and Johanna sunned. In the evenings they holed up in the house, making love and eating the delicious foods prepared by a Tahitian cook he had hired for their stay. Johanna, despite her pregnancy snorkeled with Shane, enjoying the brilliant coral and fish that inhabit the waters of the South Pacific. They had a great time, she swimming vigorously in the blue ocean, he either sailing or swimming with her. When the couple returned to the Masai Mara, they were feeling very good about their relationship and coming baby.

Shane and Johanna in Bora Bora.....

Dr. Juma Mnyama and Staci Simba, after their engagement announcement, began to be feted by true friends, family and sycophants who wanted to be a part of the show to get on the President’s good side. The first held was by Staci’s loving grandparents, Dorian and Cynthia Cheetah. It was held in their Mombasa home on a weekend and very elegant.

Betty sent her stepdaughter a gift with a loving message wishing her well. She declined to attend, though invited to most of the soirees. She knew that Shane would be there with Johanna. Though Betty had made a decision about living with Shane Simba, she still loved him to an obsessive degree and couldn’t wait to return to Tanzania where he wasn’t so ever present in the media.

Leah Simba went dateless to Staci’s bash at her grandparent’s home in Mombasa. Trevor Tau was on call all weekend, taking Juma’s shift as well as his own. She was staying with her parents in Mombasa. Leah attended with Roy Lee and Janice (Jaguar) Simba. Janice was a monumental part of the wedding festivities having been delegated to design the male and female’s attire for the occasion. Leah was the matron of honor, her half-sister, Lee Simba also one of the bridesmaids. Staci Simba had also included Leah and Ashley’s daughter, Imani Lyon, in the bridal group. Her flower girl was to be her Uncle Sloane’s daughter, Georgy Simba. A double cousin, Sara Simba, the daughter of her aunt Christine Cheetah Mbube and her ex-husband and Staci’s uncle, Chris Simba, was to be a bridesmaid. Since the Cheetah daughters had so liberally wed the Simba males, there were quite a few double cousins that had to be included in order not to hurt sensitive feelings. Staci invited her nursing school pal, Lucy Cougar, to this bash. She brought along Leah’s ex-husband, Ashley Lyon. Fortunately Leah and Ashley were very friendly with each other. Ashley Lyon had a great gift in being able to continue meaningful amity with former wives.

Betty packed the last minute items, while Wilda Wildebeest looked on trying not to weep. Babs gadded about trying to help with the packing. Wilda was to still remain in Betty’s home on Leoparde Drive with Babs, the housekeeper.

Shane had come to collect their three sons, staying for a drink. He stood facing the swimming pool, where they had engaged in many a midnight skinny dip.

“Fifi, I don’t want to divorce you. Are you willing to allow me that leeway?” he asked, lighting a cigarette.

“Shane, I couldn’t stand the thought of our being divorced either. I love you too damn much still.”

He turned to face her, his green eyes misted.

“We share some sort of very significant bond, Betty. I can’t stand the thought of a permanent breach. I will always love you.”

“Yes, we do. I am sure I will never get over this thing I have about you.”

“Can I hold you?”

“No, because if you do, I will collapse totally, Shane.”

He stood, as if uncertain, then slowly turned and walked out. She stood watching his graceful form walk down the hall and to the front door. As he opened the door, he looked back at her.

“Just remember that I love you,” he said.

Betty stood frozen with the most awful and painful hole in the pit of her stomach. She refused to cry or call for Wilda and Babs. She had to be tough.

Wilda and Babs saw her off on the plane owned by Ashley Lyon. Ashley taxied to the runway and took off in the clear morning sky.

The next party held for Staci was one at the mansion hosted by her father. That evening Shane seemed very much a couple with Johanna, who looked drop dead gorgeous. Lachlan and I were invited. We milled about the elegantly dressed invitees until Lachlan gave a tremendous lion yawn.

“Are you sleepy or bored stiff?” I giggled in his ear.

“Both but mostly the latter,” he whispered back.

Johanna and Shane the evening of Staci's party...

Simone Serval was not a happy camper. She saw the carefree Ashley sliding through her paws. He was busy working on the plans for his new house next to Luke and Jane Leoparde’s bush estate. He was noncommittal when Simone tried to tie him down.

“Sims, I just got a divorce. I have no intention of settling down again anytime soon. We’ll still see each other,” he had said, giving her a quick kiss.

“No we won’t,” she screeched, slamming the heavy door to her penthouse.

“Oh well,” sighed Ashley, going to the elevator and pushing the down button. “Can’t win ‘em all.”

Tarzan was weary from a long day of fishing and pulling his net in with very hefty hauls. He towed his dhow ashore and began to package his fish.

“Tarzan,” called a familiar voice.

He faced the direction of the voice. There was Betty with one shoulder in a sling and still bandaged.

“You’re back, Betty.”

He walked toward her. He could see the tears in her eyes, realizing that they were also in his.

“Did you think I wouldn’t come back?” she managed to say, choking back more tears.

“I was hoping you would.”

She hugged him tightly with her good arm around his waist.

“I smell like fish,” he protested slightly, before putting his arms around her.

“I don’t mind……don’t mind at all,” she said into his chest.

“Oh, Betty…..I am so glad to see you again….so glad you’re here.”