Maurice & Friends

To say that Ashley Ralph Lyon has taken a hard tumble for the girl from Kansas, Cutty Sark, is to under express his feelings. Ashley, being given that name by his romantic mom as a salute to Gone with the Wind, is not a true romantic but he exudes charm, humor and great looks which all work in his favor. In regard to Cutty Sark, Shane Simba’s press secretary, one might say she is the human version of Leah Simba Tarzan, Ashley’s big love and mother of five of his offspring. Cutty and Leah are bubbly, gregarious, and overwhelmingly cute in the superior sense of that word. Their curvaceous bodies are to die for (if you aren’t gay, that is). The fact of one being human and the other feline doesn’t seem to come into play. Leah and Cutty are definitely of a type. Ashley Lyon gets all hot and bothered over that sort. Now mind you, I am not miscalculating Cutty’s role in all this. The gal from Kansas is in LOVE for the first time EVER! She has whispered this to me almost every time I pass her in the State House halls.

Cutty and Ashley, the new and intense lovers.....

The real oddity in all of this is how Shane Simba has decided to stick his head in the sand where his press secretary is concerned. His oldest daughter and her cubs are living with him for the time being. Cutty is banging his oldest daughter’s hubby. Just so you get the facts clearly. Of course it takes two to shag – it always has. The day after the pictures of Cutty and Ashley were shown in every major tabloid and gossip section in Kenya, Shane has treated Cutty no differently than always which is pretty swell. I work very closely with Shane. My take on the situation is that his own life has undergone such sea changes recently that to deal with the aftermath of his daughter’s floundering marriage is too big a piece of dead sea fruit for him to chew on for the time being. Therefore, he goes his merry way – and he seems to be a rather contented camper these days. He whistles in the outer office, greets his staff cheerily in the mornings and works diligently to resolve Kenya’s issues and problems. One might say that Shane Simba has the best of worlds to exist in these days. His favorite grandcub, Cathy Lyon is in his household along with her litter mate, young Shane Lyon. He has his daughter at home but finest of all, his best friend and companion these days is no other than his ex-wife, Betty Chimpo. This brings into happy play their three sons together who are delighted with their parent’s rapprochement. .

Shane Simba and his former mate, Betty Chimpo, in the bush house steam room...

Jack Tarzan has been taken from ICU in the clinic to rehab where they want to work with his memory loss and muscle damage from his horrendous experiences during and after the boating incident. Leah goes every day after work and sits by his side until the nurse comes and gives him Ambien. .

Jack struggles in rehab with memory loss and injuries from his boating accident..

The official limousine was pulled into Betty’s drive. The President was in the house having cocktails with her. Shane was discussing how he misses his two children with Alexandra Simba.

“Can’t she at least let you have them for a weekend, Shane? It only seems fair. Why don’t you ask Alex?”

“Since we aren’t divorced yet, it’s not being dealt with, Fifi.”

“Shane, you are the president of Kenya. I know you don’t want to use force but you should be able to see your children, darling.”

“Alexandra is not like you, Betty. She believes in punishing me with my kids. You never did.”

“Try to reason with her. Go there if you have to. At least call her after all she did have an affair with Dickey. You weren’t the only one.”

“I was pretty egregious, Betty. You know me when it comes to fucking around,” he said with a sharp bitter laugh.

“Oh how well I remember, darling.”

“I put away the bong last night but smoked it the night before,” confessed Dickey Simba to Dr. Lachlan Lion.

“May I suggest that you go somewhere else other than your home for the early evening hours? Maybe this will alleviate your immediate boredom and loneliness on entering an empty home. What type setting do you live in, Dickey?”

“A very pretentious high rise that abuts a lion architect’s balcony - one I have no social contact with at all.”

“Ever thought of moving to a friendlier place where you could tinker with the environment in a meaningful way such as gardening - perhaps even a few potted plants? It seems to me your solemn atmosphere induces your drug soaked nights,” observed Lachlan.

“That’s a thought,” replied Dickey seeming thoroughly bored at this suggestion.

After his session with Lachlan, he headed for the pub. The atmosphere was loud, raucous and far too over the top for his tastes. He did manage to run into Simone Serval who took him to her place for a rounder, trying to convince him to move to her building. Dickey was having none of that. Too many female predators inhabited Lyon Towers. Among them were Caroline Cheetah, Bop Boon, Chloe Cougar and, of course his current hostess, Simone. However, upon returning home, he placed a call to Jackal-Cougar Realty.

In a surprise move, Alexandra Simba allowed Shane a weekend with their daughter, Tanya Simba, whom he adored. Apparently, as many sons, Sacha Simba was resentful of his dad. Being a thorough mum’s boy, Sacha had resisted a visit. Alexandra flew her small daughter to the airport in the Mara where Shane, in his official helicopter, flew her to the bush home for the weekend. Neither parent was interested in exchanging thoughts, heavy greetings or ideas. Before picking up a passenger, Alexandra then flew to Nairobi where she sought the counsel of her lawyer. It seemed to her that this marriage with Shane Simba was indeed too far gone to retrieve.

This same week, another burned wife sought counsel. This time it was Staci Simba Lyon who begged her uncle, Sam Simba’s assistance in ending her marriage with Ashley Lyon. A surprise suggestion from him was that she file for a legal separation before going for a divorce.

“Ashley is no lover of humans. He’ll grow tired of this girl. Stick in there because you have cubs,” counseled Sam.

Tawny Tigeres Simba, Sam’s wife, agreed with him in totality. She and Sam were deliriously happy. She was now a full partner in Simba Brother’s law firm. Meanwhile, she handled court cases with her husband and with real fecundity had borne him two litters of Ligon cubs and was on her third as we speak. Sam Simba, finally achieving what he wanted most in life, a stable home life with lots of kiddies, was becoming quite plump. His two sons with Betty Chimpo had giggled about this to their mom – in an affectionate way of course. Both were in England studying.

Tawny (Tigeres) and Sam Simba at a Baboon-Simba studios party recently...

Betty with Shane's half human daughter, Tanya Simba, at his bush house...

Small Tanya Simba was delighted to see her father and siblings again. They were all together at the bush house. Her nephew and niece joined her in playing. They were all of an age. Betty Chimpo had arrived for Bloody Marys and lunch having been invited there by Shane. He was amazed at how small Tanya took to Betty immediately. He wondered if it was Betty’s almost human appearance but rethinking the matter later in the day, he decided that the toddler truly liked Betty for her spontaneous warmth. The remnants of the first family had a relaxed day around the pool. Lewis Lyon arrived at one point to play a set of tennis with Shane. Lewis had always liked Betty. After all she had once been married to his brother, Ashley. She also knew his parents well having been a part of Ralph Lyon’s presidency and authoring his official biography. There was pleasant chat with more drinks after dinner.

“You are staying the night, I hope, Fifi,” queried Shane as the hour got late.

“I didn’t bring an overnight bag,” was Betty’s answer. "No extra clothing."

He stood and gathered her in his arms and whispered, “You won’t need them.”

She acquiesced with the entire family delighted at her decision. After a late night discussion with Shane’s daughter, Staci, regarding her divorce dilemma, Betty followed Shane to the master bedroom. There they made love for hours. As Shane slept, softly snoring, Betty lay awake in the room as dark as the African night surrounding it.

This is starting all over again, I do believe, and I seem quite contented to let it play out, she thought. However it was Dickey Simba who invaded her early dreams.

Dickey Simba didn’t dream of Betty that same night. No indeed! He had received a surprise invitation from Alexandra Simba to fly with her to Nairobi where she had a home and spend the weekend. She would fly him back when she returned to pick up her daughter, Tanya, who was visiting her father. To say he had an enjoyable visit was not an apt description - more like scintillating. Dickey and Alexandra, between bouts of lovemaking, frequented great restaurants in our capital city. They enjoyed the cuisine at Carnivores before returning to the house and taking a marvelous and totally sensual shower together. After the rather overwhelming weekend, Alexandra flew Dickey back to the Mara.

Dickey and Alex eat ice cream in Nairobi

Dickey entered his lonely apartment and checked the voice mails left by the chicks seeking his company over the weekend. Betty Chimpo was not among them. He sighed and went for his bong but deciding against using hashish, went to his bar and pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine. Taking it to his balcony, he smoked cigarettes and drank Chardonnay until the sun fell below the hills on the savanna. He took a phone call from Monica Margay Cougar telling him an interesting home was available at the end of Leoparde Drive. He made an appointment to see it the following day.

On a windy Monday night Betty was pulling in her drive from an evening faculty meeting at Kenya University. She had a bag of groceries from Oscar Scar’s new supermarket in the Mara. She exited her car and was taking the sack from the seat when strong arms enveloped her from behind. Suddenly panicked she gave an involuntary scream. She was turned around and looked into the golden eyes of Dickey Simba.

“Got a drink for a stranger?” he asked. “I’ve missed the hell out of you, Betty.”

Tears stung her eyes in delight at the handsome sight of him.

“Yes, Dickey, always.”

When they were settled with drinks before a warming fire, he told her of his sessions with Lachlan.

“Lachlan tells me I should change my housing to something warmer and less impersonal. That’s why I’m in your neighborhood. I saw a very attractive home this evening at the other end of this street,” he told her.

“I’m glad you’re doing this, Dickey. It’s so positive. I think you seeing Lachlan is wonderful.”

“Want to be let in on a little secret, Betty?” he asked, lighting a cigarette.

“Of course,” she said putting a slim hand on his leg.

“This move is in order to get my act together and try again with our relationship – if it’s not too late and you have only Shane on the agenda.”

For the second time she felt unshed tears filling her dark eyes.

“I will always love and adore Shane. We share three offspring. But, Dickey, I have something for you that is very real. I am probably as confused as you are right now,” she admitted.

He stood up and took her hand. She stood too and kissed his lips.

“I’m not confused at this moment, Betty. I know what I want. I want you…I want us to make love until the early morning. We can have coffee and watch the sun come up.”

“Oh Dickey, I want that too.”