Maurice & Friends

Betty announced her pregnancy to the staff and those that held offices at the State House. Everyone was glad for the first lady, including Mildred Lyon and her daughter, Lisa Lyon Leo. Staci was in the office the afternoon Betty told Lisa and Mildred that she would have to curb her junkets to the AIDS villages. The mother and daughter were disappointed but knew how much this cub meant to Betty.

“Mrs. Lyon, if there are any junkets during my holidays or weekends, I’d love to go to some of the villages. I’m very interested in the AIDS crisis in Kenya,” said Staci, surprising all.

“Why Staci, how lovely of you. We happen to have one planned for next Friday. But we have to leave Friday morning,” answered Mildred, patting the pretty cub on the knee.

“I just have one study hall on Friday. I can miss that and could leave then,” enthused Staci.

“We will be so delighted to have you,” added Lisa.

“I will be at the airstrip on Friday, then.”

That Friday, Betty saw Staci off for her trip with Mildred and Lisa. She then walked to the State House where she and Shane were to hold a press conference announcing her pregnancy. They stood, surrounded by reporters and paparazzi, and fielded questions. They left out the part about the cub being a clone of his father. The couple felt that this was a privacy issue between the two of them. In fact, the only one in their immediate family that knew this fact was the tight lipped Staci. The news reached international proportions with congratulatory messages coming from far and wide.

Betty and Shane announce her pregnancy at a press conference held at the State House......

Lee Simba rang her mother’s doorbell at her penthouse in Lyon Towers. Chloe opened the door to greet her daughter who stood there accompanied by a great deal of luggage.

“Where’s your guest room or at least where do you want me to stay,” asked Lee.

“Stay? Don’t tell me you had a fight with Roy Lee or Janice,” asked a surprised Chloe.

“I’m having my first affair and I know Dad won’t approve, so I’m moving in with you, Mom. You’ve always been lenient.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Chloe, who was on her third Bloody Mary of the day and had been reading scripts before the doorbell rang.

“You don’t seem surprised,” stated Lee, putting her luggage in the room her mother had led her to.

“You’re my daughter, so no- I’m not surprised. I’ve always had affairs except when I was with Roy Lee.”

Lee lit a cigarette.

“You’re doing that too, Lee?”

“I’m doing absolutely everything, Mom.”

Sam Simba had called his wife, Allison and indicated they were to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting as soon as he got home. Now he was in transit and dreaded the prospect. He had no intention of breaking up his home though he loved Tawny Tigeres. There were just too many children at stake in his marriage to Allison Scar. The couple had eight children together including his only daughter, Shani. He reached his drive, parked and went inside. This river home he had built was slowly becoming a nightmare for him and he couldn’t let that happen. He called Allison as he walked in the door. She was already in the living room before a roaring fire. It had rained all day and was damp and chilly. She had a tray with his Chivas Regal bottle on it, glass turned down. Sam sat down, noticing the ravaged furniture where too many cubs had sharpened their claws. His wife poured him two fingers of Scotch neat. He lit a cigarette and gazed into the flames pondering how to begin.

“Ali, your pride members have taken up residency here – so many of them. I know this is your home too but it is also our home – meant for our children and us.”

“Sam, you work long hours and I get lonely.”

“How can you get lonely with eight cubs and a staff of six in the house? Look at the furniture! I bought these pieces on my travels and where I could find them. They are expensive antiques and they are scratched and clawed beyond measure and some beyond repair. It’s disgraceful.”

“We have eight cubs. You can’t have an impeccable home with eight kids, Sam.”

“Our cubs stayed in their playroom and the family room and knew not to scratch furniture but with your pride members, they’ve forgotten what was taught them,” he began to shout. “Your pride has lived outside most of their lives. Now they’ve found a roof over their heads and stay here most of the time. We have no privacy. I really can’t take it much longer, Ali. I’ll be glad to pay for them to have large house on their own territory but for crying out loud – not on top of us.”

“I never knew you were so self-centered, Sam Simba. I think it must be right what they say about your pride,” she said, jumping up and leaving the room.

Sam poured four fingers of Scotch in his glass and sat back staring into the distance. He loved Allison and adored his children but he also loved this house he had built when he was still a bachelor. He looked about once more and noticed even more indications that Allison’s pride was ruining it. He sighed heavily, took the bottle with him and went to bed. Allison didn’t grace him with her company.

Sam and Allison discuss her pride's invasion of their home.....

Dr. Juma Mnyama was surprised at the presence of the president’s daughter on this trip. They were in West Tsavo. He had read of Betty’s pregnancy and realized that it would be a long time before she would come on one of these junkets again. That Friday afternoon, after arrival, Juma had handed Staci his medical bag and informed her that she would take Betty’s place in assisting him. Staci was happy to comply with the handsome lion AIDS physician. She proved to be as valuable to Juma as her stepmother. Staci, with her pleasing personality and pert, pretty face, charmed the villagers, soothing them as well. That evening after dinner in the tent, she and Juma had a long talk about her future.

“Kenya could use more dedicated animals and people in this struggle with HIV and AIDS. I noticed today that you’re very good with those that are ill,” he told her. "As the president's daughter, if you join the struggle, more will follow. We need all the help we can get."

“I love to work with them. I realized that today. I really don’t want to leave Kenya to go to school.”

“Ever thought of being a nurse with a specialty? There is a branch of the Nairobi School of Nursing in the Mara. You could go very high in nursing even becoming a practitioner,” suggested Juma.

“I’ll talk to my dad about it. I told him I wanted to go to England where my stepbrother is in school but now I know I want to stay here.”

“You would be a welcome addition to our battle, Staci.”

The next day Staci assisted Juma again and gained even more confidence. At the end of the day, she knew what she wanted. She had made a hit with the villagers as they had with her. On Sunday when they landed in the Mara, she knew the direction her life would take.

Dr. Juma Mnyama and Staci Simba in West Tsavo working with the AIDS project.....

Staci sat in the den with her father. Betty was assisting Sean, Joshua and Jason with their homework.

“Daddy, I don’t want to go to England after all for my schooling. I loved working with the AIDS victims in West Tsavo. May I go to the Nairobi Nursing School branch in the Mara? I know what I want to do now.”

“Staci, you’re a brilliant young female, but since you skipped so many grades, you still have time to explore other avenues of study if nursing isn't right for you. But if it is, you’ll be doing a wonderful thing for Kenya. Of course you may stay here. I’ll miss you too much if you leave anyway,” said Shane.

“Oh thank you, Daddy,” shouted Staci, grabbing her father around the neck for a hug.

“I never want to be guilty of pushing my children into something they don’t want. Anyway, what would Betty and I do without your sage advice on such matters as pregnancy and our marriage in general?” laughed Shane.

"Oh, Daddy!" giggled Staci.

Imani Lyon stepped onto her grandparent’s front porch in the Lyon Pride Compound. Ralph, in his straw hat, sat on the glider reading the Masai Mara Daily. He looked up with a puzzled expression on his face when he saw his granddaughter. Unlike Roy Lee Simba, Ralph Lyon had many, many grandchildren from his multiple wives. He couldn’t quite place this young female who looked like a jaguar. Imani, in her usual moodiness, had declined visits to both sets of grandparents.

“Grandpa Lyon, I’m Imani, your granddaughter,” she said, taking a place next to him.

“Yes, yes, of course you are. Ash’s daughter, are you not? I haven’t seen you since you were a little tyke. Where have you been hiding? You look like your grandmother, Janice.”

“I wanted to come see you and just pay you a visit. After all, you’re my grandfather,” stated Imani, primly adjusting her skirts and hopefully her facial expression.

This was her last shot at a car. Ralph called for the servant to bring lemonade for Imani and Scotch for him. He sat back and tried to wipe what he knew to be an amused expression from his face.

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Imani. I haven’t seen your dad and Leah lately. How are they?”

“Oh, they are very well, Grandpa Lyon. How are you and Grandma Lyon?”

“Absolutely marvelous, we love our retirement. Your grandmother isn’t here; she is in West Tsavo on an AIDS trip.”

Imani, with the typical lack of patience of the very young wished to get to the meat of the matter. Hanging out with grandparents, no matter how legendary or famous they were, wasn’t her bag.

“Have you seen Staci Simba’s new car, Grandpa Lyon. It’s beautiful,” blurted Imani.

Now we are getting to the point thought the amused Ralph.

“I don’t believe I have, Imani. I don’t run with Staci’s crowd. They’re a bit young for me,” laughed Ralph.

“It’s a BMW convertible, Grandpa. I want one so badly. Dad won’t buy me one,” cried Imani, her Janice eyes filling with tears.

“One must walk before they can run, Imani. A BMW convertible is a lot to start with. Perhaps when Ash buys you a car, he will start with something simple although knowing him, that’s not bloody likely. He’d probably give you a plane if you learned to fly one,” mused Ralph.

The wizened former president of Kenya was not terribly moved by this granddaughter of his. He knew a spoiled and petulant youngster when he saw one.

“No, Grandpa, Dad doesn’t love me at all. He loves my adopted sister, Kitty, more,” wailed Imani, who was on a roll.

Several lionesses peered out the door of their bungalows to see what was going on with Ralph and his granddaughter.

“Why would that be, Imani?”

“He says I’m spoiled and sulky,” she moaned.

“I believe you may be just that. If your dad thinks you are not ready for a car, he is probably a good judge of that fact. Aren’t you younger than Staci Simba?”

‘Just a little bit, Grandpa.”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Imani. On your birthday I will give you a car but it will be a substantial SUV that you can fill with your friends and it will be slightly used.”

“Oooh no, I want a Beamer like Staci’s.”

When Ralph had sent his still unhappy granddaughter home with his driver, he went upstairs to get spruced up. Two of his lionesses were in estrus and he had to service them both this very night. He sprayed cologne in his mane and checked it for thinning. He had been to Paulette Poodle just last week for a trim and shampoo and the owner of Beau Visage had assured Ralph that his mane was as luxurious as ever. As he started for the front door, the maid handed him a gift bag.

“Don’t forget the candy for the ladies, Mr. President,” she smiled.

He took it and thanked her, whistling as he went down the stairs of the porch.

Bertram and I lunched at the Watering Hole Pub, OKAPI’S lunch reservations having filled up. Wally Warthog waved to us as we entered. The place had not reduced its noise level despite renovations and several additions. Wally escorted us personally to a booth in the far dining room where, hopefully, the sound of cutlery and cashing crockery wouldn’t be overwhelming to the ear. We ordered his special Bloody Marys.

“I cannot believe that Betty is risking pregnancy and all the things it entails with her, risking the marriage with the love of her life,” began Bertram.

“Lachlan thinks this will be different. Her donated uterus will be taken out with the cub. Lachlan believes since Betty had a hysterectomy the post partum psychosis won’t kick in this time.”

“Poor Gloria donated hers. Nevertheless, she seems quite happy having given it up. Gloria is like me – all about career. Let’s do hope that Betty doesn’t make a powder pile of this marriage with Shane that she wanted more than life itself.”

I agreed just in time for a tray of celery sticks, carrots and artichoke hearts to be delivered to our table. Bertram dug in.

Betty threw herself into the role of mother for the couple’s combined children. Having to let go of many of the time consuming and stressful official duties during her pregnancy, she decided to concentrate on their young. Staci, having declared that she didn’t want to go abroad to school, was taken into a program at the Exotic Animal Clinic which allowed students who wished medical careers to join a junior interne group and get the feel of a hospital. She went three days a week after school. Joshua Simba, her son with Sam, was getting into playing soccer on a serious level. He also had the fine mind of his father and his room in the state mansion was already filling with books. Jason, her green eyed son by Sam, was more interested in science and joined a science class at his school, being invited to compete in a science fair to be held in Nairobi. Shane’s son, Sean, was a dedicated soccer player but was also exhibiting the brilliant mind of his father and late mother, Catherine. It was a good time for Betty to go all maternal and concentrate on the children. The couple began to divide their week between the bush house that they were all growing to love and the mansion. Betty, in her spare moments, would go to her computer and write of this pregnancy which was so longed for and scientifically atypical. She also wrote long and heartfelt emails to her son, Arlon Lyon, studying in England. She realized that she had never been happier in her life as she awaited her fourth lion cub – Shane Simba’s son. The cub that lay in her womb would be the couple’s sixth child, not counting Shane Simba, Jr., Caroline Cheetah’s illegitimate son.