THESE TROUBLED TIMES
“Only when you are lost can love find itself in you without losing its way.”
Helene Cixous
The presidential helicopter began to hum, its propeller gaining momentum. Inside were Shane Simba and his wife, Alexandra. Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan were with them. The foursome is on its way to Nairobi to comfort refugees who have fled there from the outlying areas. They also plan an emergency session of parliament. The violence has ceased for the time being but uneasiness surrounds us like jackals sitting edgily on their haunches awaiting the carrion remains of a kill. Our office staff, not privy to the more intimate areas of the executive marriage, has no idea what happened between the hours of the reception welcoming the visiting statesmen and the helicopter lift off today. All we do know is that a weary but relaxed couple entered the State House this morning. Their loving gazes, quick touches and mutually adoring ambience were in place once again. We all applauded this change. The tense and chary couple of the past week was not to our liking.
President Shane Simba and wife, Alexandra, visit a refugee camp outside Nairobi...
With a cessation of the violence, things began to hum once more. A sort of waiting to exhale fashion show took place at JAGGERS. All the adorably new crop of models swaggered and strutted their stuff on the runways to the applause of enthusiastic buyers in the audience. Leah Simba and her partner, Duke, worked diligently behind the scenes relieved that their business was booming once more. Leah was especially happy these days. Jack Tarzan, fearing for his and old Patsy’s safety in the hill country, had moved them to Leah’s Leoparde Drive home for the time being. Old Patsy fitted well into the lively ambience of Leah’s home. There she enjoyed Leah’s children who remained in residence - the cubs, Brad, Sim and Adam Lyon.
Georgy Simba hits the runway... Imani Lyon models a Duke special....
In any spare time I could muster away from official duties, I worked with director Christine Cheetah Mbube on a gallery showing for Kenyan artists at the arts center I had enabled with my inheritance from Lawrence Leoparde. Christine and I felt it was important in this time of crisis for the art community not to lose hope. When a country falls into chaos, the artists are among the first to suffer the consequences. Alexandra Simba was our sponsor and issued the invitations from her office in the State House.
Betty Chimpo, at the request of Chancellor Terry Simba, lectured an additional class. Students from the University of Nairobi were flooding to the Mara campus in order to avoid the interruption foisted on them by the tribal marauders. Word had spread among the academic community in Kenya that Professor Betty Chimpo’s classes were well worth the taking. She invited Jack Tarzan again as well as Jane Leoparde to lecture.
Jack Tarzan is a guest lecturer in Betty's class....
Lucy Cougar, having gained a pilot’s license a while ago, joined her lover Sloane Simba in flying supplies to refugees in Kenya. The couple was growing closer. It seems in times of desperation when one is uncertain of tomorrow dawning in a recognizable form; most creatures intensify what already exists whether it is a marriage, relationship or other components of their lives. This was certainly the case with Sloane and Lucy, who had opened her expansive bush home to several refugee families. Sloane was staying with his lady love to offer protection – a great deal was due to the fact that he was finding Lucy and her family more enchanting by the day. Lucy had even taken him to her great grandmother’s home where the hypercritical Lucretia Leoparde examined the young lion and found him to her taste. The turmoil had even gentled the acerbic mother of my late lover.
Lucy Cougar and her lover, Sloane Simba.....
After a restless night of post party sex with Caroline Cheetah, Dickey Simba had seen his sexy companion out the door around dawn. It was Saturday and a rare day off since the problems besetting Kenya. The buck naked Dickey sought coffee in his kitchen. There was some made and he poured a cup, lighting a cigarette. He padded to the balcony despite his nudity. If neighbor Lion Lion wanted to benefit from the view, more power to him thought Dickey. The sun was beginning to top the Cholulu Hills to the east, the first birds awakened for the day. Dickey stood at the balcony edge in deep thought. He checked his watch. He returned to his living room and dialed the phone.
“Hello,” she answered her voice still heavy with sleep.
“Betty, I have an entire day off, how about spending it with me – your choice of venue.”
Darling, it’s Mom, have you noticed that you have a new sister yet?” asked Caitlin Cougar.
Georgy Simba took a cigarette from her bedside table and fumbled for the lighter.
“Damn, Mom, it’s freaking early,” groused Georgy, casting a quick glance at the sleeping form of Sean Simba next to her.
“Chris and I brought little Beatrice home six days ago and I haven’t seen you here. Don’t you want to see your little sister, Georgy – she’s adorable.”
“I’m sure she is, Mom but I’ve been busy modeling and just haven’t gotten by. I’ll try to visit today, okay?”
About that time her sleeping companion let out one of those loud groans that male lions are noted for.
“What’s that? Is some one there? It sounds like a male,” asked Caitlin.
“Mom, I’ll visit today, gotta run,” said Georgy, hanging up the phone quickly.
If there was one thing her mother was familiar with it was the sound effects of male lions, thought Georgy, leaning over to tickle Sean’s naked chest.
Ashley Lyon and his wife, Staci Simba Lyon, left their newborns in the care of nannies and the gang at the State mansion and joined the efforts to ease the miseries of the refugees. Staci, being an excellent nurse, joined the team from the Tigeres-Lyon Clinic in flying to Nairobi twice a week to offer medical treatment. Her sister-in-law and role model, Dr. Sylly Cougar Lyon headed that group.
Staci and hubby, Ashley Lyon, help in the refugee crisis....
Sean Simba after vowing to aid his dad and Kenya in this recent chaos was pressed into service. Shane told him in no uncertain terms to put his money where his mouth was. He was gathered up with other volunteers and sent to the refugee camp outside Nairobi. There he almost wore out his cell phone calling his friends and Georgy. His first evening’s break saw him in the infamous Nairobi nightspot CARNIVORES where his father had seen ample action in the past. There, among the oversexed single females crowding the bar, a Shane Simba look-alike was most pleasing to the senses.
President's son, Sean Simba, in Nairobi.....
Dickey Simba unlocked his muscular legs and exited Betty’s car at the Masai Mara landing strip. He shaded his eyes as she pointed to a single engine Cessna near the hangar.
“I had no idea you were a pilot, Betty, I am duly impressed,” said Dickey.
They entered the plane, Betty at the controls. She taxied to the short runway. The weather was superb. Our sun filled days are the most outstanding at the end of our long rains. There were few cloud banks to be seen. Betty revved the engines, propelling the light aircraft forward. She lifted off and banked toward the Great Rift Valley.
“What a prick you are,” admonished Imani Lyon.
The lion president of Tanzania had finally called her after a very long time.
“Imani, I’m sorry I haven’t called,” said Pete Levin. “I have been very busy.”
“I’m not talking about calling me, asshole. You haven’t helped Uncle Shane and he backed your presidency. You wouldn’t be there, if he hadn’t helped you.”
“I’m coming tomorrow, Imani, to see how I can help. That’s why I called you to see if we can get together while I’m there,” he explained.
Who would have figured the ornery Imani Janice Lyon to have a drop of patriotism in her sinewy model’s body? As I have stated, it seems that crisis affects us all.
After a wonderful day of flight over the Great Rift and other reachable scenic wonders near the Masai Mara, Betty and Dickey returned to terra firma. It was late afternoon with a blood red sun lowering itself beyond the hills.
“Want to come to my place and see my etchings again, Betty?” asked Dickey, touching her face.
“I haven’t really seen your etchings, per se,” she answered, taking his hand in hers.
“Maybe I’ll trot them out this time,” he chuckled.
Leah Simba was floating on air. She had just come from the clinic where her pregnancy was confirmed. She hugged herself.
“Oh Jack,” she told the perfumed day. “I am going to make you so happy. We’re going to make each other happy.”
Leah Simba.....
Dickey Simba made love to Betty Chimpo with a difference. He was no better lover in actuality than had been Ashley Lyon, Sam Simba, Shane Simba or Jack Tarzan. The difference lay in the fact that finally, after being imprisoned far too long within her own mindless passion, Betty was freed from the shadow of Shane that had painted her relationships with those who followed. Betty was allowed something most females failed to achieve – she was in Dickey’s bed the following morning. They made coffee in his kitchen and went to the balcony to greet the day.
Dickey Simba.....
Alexandra and Shane Simba were back on track following a terrifying argument the night of the reception for Annan and Mandela. It could have easily torn the marriage asunder with its emotional violence. Shane had voiced the anti-human sentiments he was harboring in these times of violence engendered by human tribal conflict in Kenya. The couple argued in their bedroom that night after the party. There were tears of rage followed by remorse.
“My God, Shane…..do you hear yourself?” sobbed Alexandra, covering her face with her hands.
It finally dawned on the shell shocked Shane that he did adore this woman and she had nothing to do with the catastrophic events in the country he governed. He held her tightly in his arms, his tears wetting her hair. They clung to each other.
“Alex, my love, I am so sorry,” he whispered.
“My darling Shane, I am always here for you. I’m sorry I took off – it was a silly thing to do and it will never happen again. I promise you that.”
Georgy Simba held her tiny sister, Beatrice Cougar-Simba. She finally paid that overdue visit to the home her mother shared with Chris Simba. She had brought a gift basket of tiny garments and things an infant can use.
“She’s beautiful, Mom. Are you and Uncle Chris happy together?”
“I think we are, Georgy. Ours is not one of those hot and heavy relationships but it seems to be taking off. Chris adores little Bea.”
“When is the baptismal?” asked Georgy, putting the cub in its bassinette so she could join her mother for a cigarette on the terrace.
“Next Sunday, will you be there? Carly is still with Mom and Dad but he is coming too.”
“I’ll be there, Mom.”
The First Couple went to Nairobi once more. Shane spoke to parliament before the two went together to tour the refugee areas. Alexandra and Shane listened with genuine interest to the tales of those who had experienced terrible violence at the hands of their fellow man. Many in the warring tribes had intermarried which had presented even greater problems when the Luo and Kikuyu clashed.
Another visit with the refugees....
Justice Minister Dickey Simba was dispatched to Nairobi to work with parliament for a solution to the tribal disputes. He spent his nights in the Stanley Hotel and his days meeting with the various ministers and attachés. At week’s end, he called Betty Chimpo and asked her to join him.