Maurice & Friends

There are those among us who can rest assured of spending New Year’s Eve among loved ones and family. Then there are those who are unsure as to whose company they will be in during the crucial hours that mark the passage from one year to another. I, Maurice Monkee, have been uncertain in years past. Not all my lovers were as stable as Lachlan. This year Lachlan and I plan to spend the evening in front of our fireplace on Leoparde Drive. We have stocked the best bubbly and are looking forward to a bit of solace amidst the wear and tear of our lives.

The singles among us seem to be the most desirous of spending the evening with those who excite them. Sean Simba and his cousin, Troy, have slated one of their loud and somewhat vulgar parties to mark the event. Their new home is habitable now and furnished, most probably, in the excruciating taste that marks young single males – especially of the sports jock persuasion. All trophies, tacky furnishings, dirty underwear shoved under the bed and the scent of overly enthusiastic young bodies. However, let us not be bothered with the very young. They always manage to entertain themselves heartily on every given occasion and if they miss doing so once, they at least have youth on their side.

I speak of those of us who are bearing their years as gracefully as possible and are not as lucky as I am, with my Lachlan. Chloe Cougar and her penthouse neighbor Bop Boon fall in that category. Caroline Cheetah, newly divorced from her husband, Sloane Simba, seems terribly nervous these days. It even shows on her evening newscast from WMM-TV where she is the main anchor.

Chloe Cougar, among those seeking New Year's Eve companionship...

The constantly on the move president and his wife, will spend New Year’s on Shane's personal yacht with their dearest friends, Lewis and Gina Lyon.

Shane Simba's yacht moored in the port in Mombasa.......

“Aunt Goosey, what the fuck?” asked her alarmed nephew, police chief, Bubba Simba.

Goosey Simba lay sprawled like a splayed lioness effigy amidst the beer bottles and cans in the clearing outside her trailer. She got to her feet slowly, adjusted her cracked spectacles and snarled.

“I slipped, knucklehead, what does it look like I did?”

“Aunt Goosey, you’re gonna break your neck if you don’t stop that boozing,” admonished Bubba.

“Mind your business, numb nuts, cats always land on their feet,” she growled, reentering her home and slamming the trailer door which almost fell off its hinges from the impact.

Goosey Simba before her fall....

Bubba sighed and let the issue of his sottish aunt fall by the wayside. He had personal fish of a bigger nature to fry. His son, Terry, had recently been made the chancellor of the Mara campus of Kenya University. He had just purchased a lovely condo in the Watering Hole Group and invited his parents to dine with him on New Year’s Eve. Terry, being a caring chap had included all of his dad’s lionesses in the invitation. Terry’s mother, Sukey, was chewing nails and making the rest of the household miserable. Sukey was determined that, since Terry was HER son, she was the only lioness that would be accompanying Bubba. Bubba Simba had big problems but then he had never been able to keep his lionesses under even a modicum of control. Lachlan swears this is the reason that the rest of the Simba males totally eschew being pride leaders.

Betty Chimpo was determined to spend New Year’s Eve alone, preparing for her new post and teaching classes that would begin at Kenya University on the first Monday in January. She stocked several bottles of champagne just in case Wilda Wildebeest didn’t stay the night with her son Walter and his herd. Betty’s sons, Arlon Lyon and Joshua Simba had bid her goodbye before leaving early for England and their studies there. Alexandra Simba had called to ask if she wanted Jalil and Tarek Simba to join her for that evening although they were looking forward to a weekend on the presidential yacht with their pals, Lewis and Gina Lyon’s offspring. Betty thanked Shane’s wife but asked that the cubs go to Mombasa as planned. Betty had no idea where Solly would be. He was growing up and had a new car so she imagined he would plan an evening with his soccer teammates and friends. Betty planned her evening as one of solitude and preparation. That wouldn’t hurt her cause at all.

Dickey Simba was restless and mildly depressed. He had just been summoned by his cousin Bubba Simba to see to his mother Goosey who had taken a drunken tumble from her trailer. When Dickey arrived at the scene, he found his mother snoring loudly in her tawdry bed with the broken springs and tattered velour spread.

“What are you fuming about, Dickey? Did numb nuts call you?” she growled.

“Mom, why the hell don’t you move into Sarah Lee or Leander’s house? They’re neat and clean and have springs in the beds.”

“Mind your bloody business, boy,” snarled Goosey, who covered her head and returned to her nap.

Dickey removed his bong from the cabinet when he got home. It was early afternoon. He wished the State House wasn’t closed for such a long holiday. His keen mind yearned for the invigorating duties of his ministerial post. He picked a new hardback from among his Christmas gifts. Going to the kitchen he got a beer. He sat down in his favorite chair to read – the chair near the window with the view of the savanna. He lit the bong and inhaled deeply. His cell phone rang. He checked the caller ID. It was Caroline Cheetah. He didn’t answer. Five minutes later, just as he was getting intrigued with the book, it rang again. This time it was Chloe Cougar. He continued to read.

(left) Sean receives an accusation from Troy (right)...

“It is so uncool of you to have sex with a female who is involved with me, Sean.”

This came from Troy Simba as he and Sean Simba were drinking beer in their kitchen.

“What do you mean, Troy? Who are you talking about?”

Fortunately, Sean has the gift of the superficial in not registering much emotion or body language when accosted with something of which he is truly guilty.

“I’m talking about Sandi (Sandcat). She confessed this morning because she’s knocked up. Ever thought of using rubbers, Dude?”

“Maybe she’s preggers by you or someone else, Troy,” Sean hastened to impart.

“No, I use condoms and she hasn’t been screwing anyone else. The buck stops at your feet, Sean.”

Sean Simba, who is no tower of emotional strength, needed to foist his misery and air his case before a caring and neutral party. He decided that Betty was the ticket. He rang her doorbell. She was alone in the house and had no other choice but to answer the ring. There stood a sight that would have thrilled her before but somehow failed to do so now. Nevertheless, being her former stepson as well as lover, she let him in. A fire was glowing with red embers in her cozy family room. She offered him a drink, he accepted.

“Betts, I’ve missed you so. You’ve been avoiding me,” he hastened to tell her, putting forth a muscular arm to draw her next to him on the sofa. She patted his hand and went to a chair instead.

“How have you been, Sean?” she asked, sidestepping his pointed whine.

“We got moved and the house fixed up. Dad and Uncle Roy Lee bought the thing and had it redone. It had to be for investment purposes. Dad doesn’t do anything that’s not that, these days,” carped Sean.

“Your dad has always been pretty damn good to his children, Sean. He has quite a few flaws but caring for his kids is not one of them,” argued Betty, lighting a cigarette.

Sean started to protest and tell Betty of the constant austerity his father exhibited toward him now but thought better of it. He knew Betty was still besotted by his father.

“Can I have another drink?” asked Sean, popping up to get one anyway.

“You certainly may, Sean. You know where the Scotch is.”

He came back and dropped on the sofa again, splashing a bit of drink on his tee shirt emblazoned with the soccer team logo and his team number.

“You seem a bit edgy. What’s wrong?” asked Betty.

“This little model is accusing me of getting her pregnant....shit,” he groaned.

Betty waited for the hurt from that declaration. There was none.

“Are you the father?” asked Betty without even caring enough to know her name.

“Uh, no…..oh maybe….I don’t really know. She’s Troy’s squeeze. He says he’s not the father but who the hell knows.”

“You had sex with Troy’s female friend?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my,” was all Betty could manage. She wanted to get back to her computer and studies.

“Let’s make love, Betts,” said Sean jumping up to make a grab for her.

Betty stood also.

“No, Sean, I don’t want to. I am starting a new career and life. It may be at a late age but nevertheless, that’s where I am.”

“Damn, are you sure, Betty?” asked the aghast young male who was a comparative stranger to sexual rejection.

“Yes, darling, I truly am. I have really got to get back to my books and computer. You may have a go cup if you like.”

She went to her kitchen, pulled a plastic glass from the cabinet, stopped by her dining room and retrieved a wrapped package then returned to the still dismayed Sean. She handed him the gift package.

“Here is a little something for Christmas that I got for you. Goodbye darling and do keep well,” she said, pushing him ever so gently toward the front door.

In a matter of minutes, Sean Simba was in his car and pulling out of the driveway at Betty’s. He headed for the Watering Hole Pub. Parking his car, he decided to open Betty’s gift. He tore the paper. It was a leather bound book of poetry. He stared at in, mystified, for a few minutes.

“What the fuck am I going to do with that?” he said to himself.

He entered the pub and heard the boisterous clatter of those seeking drink and companionship. He relaxed and headed for the sports bar.

Dickey Simba was still restless and depressed. Betty was feeling alone but determined to bear it. Somehow the two moods interacted and managed to cross the wires.

The pub’s deck was mostly empty although the late afternoon was rain free. Betty spotted him as she came up the stairs, sitting at a table with two covered cups of Starbucks coffee. He signaled to her. She joined him.

“Nothing like a lovely friend to lighten my mood today,” said Dickey taking Betty’s hand and pulling out a chair for her.

“I needed this. I was a bit blue today. I guess new career jitters.”

Betty joins Dickey for another Starbucks date......

Sloane Simba drove to Lucy Cougar’s bush home. He had her kids and his cub, Cindy, in the car with him. They had been to get ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. Upon arrival there, he found a surprise visitor. His oldest daughter, Georgy, was chatting with Lucy in the cozy kitchen. She came to hug him.

“Daddy, can I spend New Year’s Eve with you and Luce?”

“Of course you can, honey. We don’t have plans, do we?” said Sloane turning to Lucy for affirmation.

“No and if we drop by Mom and Dad or your Mom’s house, Georgy can go too. After all Georgy girl is part of the Cougar and Simba clans,” answered Lucy happily.

Sloane gave Lucy a hug, squeezing her lovingly. He felt lucky to be part of this young female’s warm and caring circle.

Sloane and Lucy in her kitchen......