The President gets an enforced rest....
I've spent most of my life walking under that hovering cloud, jealousy, whose acid raindrops blurred my vision and burned holes in my heart.
~Astrid Alauda~
Lucy Cougar was no longer able to come to Betty’s home three mornings a week to attend to her correspondence as the vice president’s wife. Lucy was too absorbed in her new baby and renewed marriage to Alexander Simba. Betty had to tackle it herself and it was becoming rather voluminous. Her stepdaughter, Staci, was a whiz on the computer but with her school, sports and extra curricula activities had no spare time to help Betty. Betty met with the Kenyan Arts Council twice a week. She was becoming snowed under with her new role as Shane’s wife and the job as news anchor at WMM-TV.
The scene at the Exotic Animal Clinic was complete bedlam. Reporters were in a crush to find the facts, almost stepping on each other’s heads in the pandemonium. President Ralph Lyon had been admitted earlier complaining of chest pains. Masai guards tried to quell the media mob. Finally, Police Chief Bubba Simba put most of his units at the hospital. Mildred Lyon and I sat in a private waiting room as pride members continued to join us. I had been in the office with Ralph earlier in the day when he had grabbed his chest and tried to rise from his chair. He had slumped back into his former position, causing me to call for the guards and phone 911. Mildred had been in her office and had run down the hall when I sounded the alarm. Now we sat waiting for news of Ralph who was still in the examining room with every doctor on the staff attending him. Vice President, Shane Simba, who had been on a day’s trip to the Turkana District in Kenya, arrived flanked by Masai warriors. After what seemed an eternity, Drs. Frank and Ted Tigeres with Dr. Sylly Cougar Lyon came to the waiting room. Mildred jumped up.
“How is he?” she cried.
“Mad as a hornet,” laughed Frank. “He wants to go home. I want him away from the State House for at least six weeks. He has only a touch of angina. His heart his fine but he has put in too many years and hours without a break, Millie. I want him away from Kenya for a bit.”
“I’ll call Mandiba tonight. Ralph loves to spend time with him on his place in the Eastern Cape in South Africa,” said Mildred.
“You go with him, Millie and don’t let him work. He’s to forget Kenya for awhile. He has a top notch vice president in this chap,” said Frank, slapping Shane on the shoulder.
“Can I see him, Frank?” asked Mildred with tears in her eyes.
“Of course you can. The whole pride can go in but I’ve given him a slight sedative so he’s likely to conk out on you.”
The Masai guards, who adore Ralph Lyon, almost wept with relief as did we all. Ralph called Shane and me to his bedside and gave us his working orders. Shane was to move into his office while he was with Nelson Mandela. I was to assist him. Shane, Frank Tigeres, Sylly Cougar Lyon and I held a brief press conference in the entrance to the clinic. Shane and I fielded questions about the government while the doctors handled the medical queries.
Vice President Shane Simba, me, Dr. Sylly Cougar Lyon and Dr. Frank Tigeres field questions at the press conference at the clinic…..
Ralph stayed in the clinic for three day, leaving immediately from there, joined by Mandela and Mildred, to South Africa. Two guards went with him on Ralph One, his official 747. Bernard Cougar offered to oversee the building of Ralph’s new home in Mombasa. Of course, Lewis Lyon, being the contractor and Ralph’s son, was doing his usual impeccable job in finishing the details.
Now Shane Simba was the acting president of Kenya. Life changed for him. He was now flanked by many guards wherever he went. Betty took a sabbatical from WMM-TV so she could man the First Lioness’ office. Irving Impala hired Caroline Cheetah from the Masai Mara Daily to anchor the evening news. Bob Bushbuck, relieved to be rid of the difficult Caroline, moved Judy the lioness to her position as news director for the paper. I must say that Shane, Betty and I enjoyed our lunches together in the presidential dining room. Bernice Bear, Mildred’s social secretary of long standing, would join us when she didn’t choose a nap over our company. “We, bears do love a bit of hibernation,” she declared when absent from a meal.
One of the first things on the Vice President’s agenda was to speak to the Parliament in Nairobi and assure them that Ralph was well but in need of a rest. Betty and I accompanied him on the small jet. We sat as he made a stirring speech. I could tell Betty was moved by the handsome figure at the podium and his eloquence. We flew back to the Mara with Betty and Shane dropping me at my home in the official Rolls with the crest of Kenya on both front doors. It was a Friday and I wished them a relaxing weekend.
“Fifi, I’m sorry you gave up your job to attend to my needs at the State House. I know how keen you are on your career.”
Betty and Shane were lying in their bed under the cooling ceiling fan. It had been an unusually blistering day. The heat of the day had seeped into the hours of darkness. Betty rolled over and kissed him deeply.
“You come first with me, Shane. Your needs are my needs. I love my career but I’ve found a replacement in just being your wife. I love every minute of it. You are my life, my soul, my career – my everything.”
“Let’s take a midnight swim. Naked as the day we were born. There’s no work tomorrow. What do you say to that, Fifi?”
She jumped out of bed, ran to the closet and putting on a light robe, followed him downstairs and into the pool. There they made love in the tepid water. Tiring from their aquatics, they made their way upstairs after two hours. They got in bed and fell asleep almost immediately. They slept until the sounds of the children moving about the house waked them. They all enjoyed one of the Babs’ hefty breakfasts.
Another animal beside Betty Chimpo Simba got their lifelong dream. Oddly enough, it was Betty’s ex-husband and current opponent, Sam Simba. Sam’s wife, Allison Scar Simba, gave birth to a litter of four male lion cubs. Sam had always wanted a full house of progeny by a loving wife. Now this was all his. Blue ribbons were posted on the Minister of Justice door in the State House. Mildred and Ralph sent a huge bouquet of flowers flown fresh from South Africa. Tookie Simba sent roses. Sam had backed her in her engagement to the human yacht captain. Leander drove Sarah Lee to the hospital where champagne corks popped relentlessly in Allison’s room where the four cubs lay lined up in the standard Exotic Animal Clinic cribs. Sam’s need to procreate the natural way and have pure lion cubs was finally met. Betty and Shane sent flowers as well, hoping to soften the hard feelings between the two brothers. Sam brought Allison and his new cubs home on a beautiful day where the storks waded in the Mara River alongside elephants dousing their calves with water. A large dinner was planned the next evening. Sarah Lee, Leander, Alexander and Lucy, Roy Lee and Chloe, Chris, Sefu and Cassandra, Bubba and his lionesses were invited; in fact all of the pride members with the exception of Shane were asked to attend. Tookie didn’t come due to the fact that Sarah Lee wouldn’t accept her fiancé, Captain Dick. That same night, Captain Dick and Tookie had dinner with Shane and Betty.
Ashley Lyon ran up the stairs where Leah Lyon was reclining on the bed with a glass of wine. He jumped in beside her.
“Leely, I want you to come with me on a trip. We are flying to see Mom and Dad at Mandiba’s house in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Dad called today and invited us. We’ll take the new Cessna, just the two of us. Very romantic, don’t you think?”
“Oh, Ash, that’ll be great. What about the kids?”
“Leely, there are two nannies here. Arlon drives now. He can take Kitty and Imani to school. And Betty and Shane are just down the street. Christine will keep an eye on them too. We’re surrounded by caring neighbors. They’ll be fine.”
“Will be back in time for the opening of Dad’s play?”
“Yes, I wouldn’t miss Roy Lee’s first time on stage for anything.”
“Okay, Ash, you’ve won me over,” she said, putting her arms around him and pulling him on top of her.
Micah and Roy Lee were in the two last weeks of rehearsal before the opening of Death of a Salesman. Micah had postponed his production of Macbeth to work with Roy Lee Simba in his theater debut. Excitement was high. The first night was a sell out with the next week’s performances three quarters filled and still attracting ticket sales.
Caroline Cheetah sat with her feet on the coffee table in Clint and Chelsea Cougar’s new home in the bush. She lit a cigarette and took a drink of the martini her sister had made her.
“I’m just shooting blanks in my social life. I’d love to nail that new Simba – Sloane. Now, Luke Leoparde is angry because I took Sloane to my house for the night.”
Chelsea joined her sister with her feet on the table. A dancer’s feet can always use a good prop up.
“You’re such a bitch, Caroline. I don’t think you’re aware of how you come off to others,” said Chelsea, taking a draw from her cigarette and blowing the smoke toward the ceiling fan.
“I don’t think you’re exactly sugar coated, yourself, Chelsea,” snarled Caroline.
Chelsea had struck a nerve.
“No, I’m not. But I don’t go out of my way to diss others. You are always so snarly about everyone and everything. You need to cool your jets. And what the fuck do you need with one of those god-awful Simbas?”
“They’re very sexy males. When is Clint’s brother coming to the Mara?”
“There must be a never-ending supply of Simbas around here. I’m not introducing you to Carl Cougar. Clint’s brother doesn’t need your shit. He’s a cougar and much too nice for your ghastly qualities.”
“Thanks a million, Chel,” growled Caroline holding out her glass for a top off.
The Arts Counsel of Kenya held another meeting in the main assembly room at the State House and planned another bash to raise money. Hippi Potumus offered to close her Croc’s Bar & Grill for an event and furnish the liquor as well. This was deemed a wonderful idea and great show of generosity. It was decided that the attire would be casual. Christine Cheetah said that she would issue the invitations from her office at the arts center. It was to be the day after the last performance of Death of a Salesman. This, they hoped, would draw some of those who had come to the Mara to see the play. Betty thanked Hippi profusely for her openhanded gesture in allowing the party to take place at her restaurant and furnishing the liquor. Donations were coming in for the new creative writing school that Betty had initially endowed.
Sloane Simba had been living with his mother, Leander. He needed a place of his own. One morning early, his car pulled into the parking area of Jackal Realty. Jerrilyn Jackal Scar, the owner, was busy with a buyer so Sloane was directed to the office of Linda Cougar. Linda was buffing her well groomed claws. She looked up and exclaimed:
“Oh, shit!"
“That’s no way to greet a potential client,” he said, sitting and lighting a cigarette. “I need a place to lay my head – something to live in.”
“I imagine you’ll want to rent,” remarked Linda, lighting her own, and pushing the ashtray toward Sloane. “Don’t litter my floor with ashes.”
“I wasn’t planning to drop ashes on your unsullied floor and what gives you the idea I have leasing in mind? For all you know, I may be in the market for an estate.”
“You look like the transient sort so I guessed you wanted a rental so you can leave in a rush, if needed.”
“You are one bitter, jaded little bitch if I’ve ever seen one.”
“What do you have in mind for a residence?”
“I want to rent in Lyon Towers if you will lower yourself to take me there.”
“We have two leases in that building. Lucy Cougar is subleasing. She moved back with her husband,” said Linda, with an obvious scowl as she said it.
“I know she did. I’m Alex’s brother. I dined with them last night. Their cub is very cute.”
“Do you want me to show you the apartment?”
“Please, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s a pain the ass but I’ll manage.”
Shane Simba’s guard handed him the single rose. The driver pulled the car to the side of the road. Shane got out and walked the short distance to Catherine Cheetah Simba’s grave. He kneeled and placed the rose on the marble slab. He stayed for awhile before returning to the car. This was a weekly ritual for the vice president. The Rolls slowly pulled off and took the highway that led to Shane’s home.
Sam and Allison’s cubs were christened at the First Church of the Ascending Predator. A reception was held in Sam’s river home. Once again, Shane and Betty were left of the list of invitees.
Betty decided to bite the bullet. She left Mildred Lyon’s office in the State House and walked upstairs to Sam Simba’s suite which still contained the blue ribbons celebrating the birth of his new sons. His secretary called to see if he would see her. He consented and his secretary pointed to his office door. Betty entered and saw Sam behind his desk. He didn’t bother to get up and greet her. His yellow eyes were cold.
“Sam, I wanted to pass on good wishes to you for the birth of your new litter.”
“I’m sure you have more on your mind than just congratulating me for my new sons. You seldom do anything that’s not convoluted. What’s your real reason for coming here? Let’s spit it out, Betty.”
“You really hate me, don’t you?”
“I do indeed. Now what do you want?”
“Can I have a set time with Jason and Joshua, please? I miss them terribly.”
“Jason doesn’t want any part of you. He clung to Ali crying when I tried to send him. I don’t want Josh to be influenced by that bastard you married. I also find you a despicable animal. As for your missing Josh and Jason, isn’t the fact that you finally get your hooks in Shane enough thrills for you? Do you have to involve my sons in your noxious wiles? Go back to court, Betty, if you want them. I’ll fight you tooth and nail and it will be dirty as hell.”
With no response, she left his office. When she entered Mildred’s office again, Bernice Bear was sorting some papers on her desk. She looked up and saw that Betty was about to burst into tears.
“What’s wrong, Betts? You look like you’ve seen a ghoul,” asked Bernice.
“I have. I tried to talk to Sam about my boys. He is so filled with hate for Shane and me, Bernice. I don’t know what to do. I thought the birth of his new cubs would soften him some,” wept Betty.
Bernice had grown fond of Betty over time. She had gotten to know her when she was married to Ashley Lyon and after that, when she’d bring Arlon to visit Mildred and Ralph. Now she was working closely with Betty, taking care of the First Lioness’ and her correspondence and projects.
“I imagine time will do more than just a recent birth. I suppose it’s a strange situation having divorced one brother and married his litter mate.”
“I’m paying the price for that one. But it’s worth it, Bernice. I so adore Shane.”
“And that is probably what sticks in Sam’s craw. But the jealousy and bitterness will die out eventually. Time will be on your side.”