The Simba pride begins to heal....
“Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to
dig a little to find it.”
Tori Amos
Leah Simba Lyon had put a lot of thought in the matter. She loved her husband, Ashley, every bit as much as Betty loved her uncle, Shane. The crash and subsequent rescue of the vice president and his flight crew had shaken everyone in Kenya. Especially concerned were Mildred Lyon and Leah who realized that Ashley was in the air a good part of his life these days. Knowing that no one would be able to keep Ashley from the joys of flying his safaris, Leah took another course of action. She began flying lessons with Luke Leoparde and Ashley as her instructors.
“I’ve decided to try for a job with Leoparde-Lyon Safari Club when I get my license,” announced Leah to her husband. “Will you hire me?”
She, Ashley and Luke were in Mombasa in front of a roaring fire in their family room that opened to the beach.
“Leely, what about the kids?” asked Ashley. “You always want to spend more time with them.”
“They’re getting older, Ash. Sim and Adam will be starting kindergarten soon. The two nannies drive and can do the school rounds. I’ll just ask for the day flights. That should ease your crunch.”
"I think it’s a great idea, Ash,” agreed Luke. “Leah has such a terrific personality she’ll be great with the clients.”
“Okay, then. Welcome aboard. When you get your pilot’s license you’re hired, Leely.”
The next time Leah saw her father, Roy Lee Simba, she told him of her plans and flight lessons. They were in his new home on Leoparde Drive.
“My God, Leah, just make movies if you want a job. At least films are made on the ground. Those bloody small planes are dangerous. Shane is a lucky bloke to get out of that crash alive.”
The lucky bloke was still experiencing bouts of stabbing pains from his healing rib cage. He had been able to wean himself from the morphine shots, having one only at night before he slept. His ribs were bound and during a fresh round of taping, he would give the medical techs hell when they stripped the old ones. After his miraculous survival and rescue, Shane Simba was having a terrible time recuperating from his very excruciating injuries. Betty didn’t mind that her husband was roaring about the house most hours of the day. She relished every obnoxious mood that tore through him. At least he was alive and able to be peevish, was her way of thinking. Better a restless, pain weary husband than his body turning to dust in the wreckage of the plane in Tanzania. Shane Simba had always been something of a workaholic and part of his problem was the desire to be in his office again working on affairs of State.
On a rain swept evening, Caitlin Cougar entered the Watering Hole Pub. She was hoping that Jane and some others from the Masai Mara Daily would be there. Instead she found Luke Leoparde with a female caracal who happened to be Dr. Carey Caracal of the mental health center. He nodded a greeting but didn’t join her. She pushed her way to the bar and ordered a martini. She looked to the side and saw Sloane Simba surrounded by a coterie of admiring females. One was her neighbor and the other was her cousin, Linda Cougar. She decided to have another drink and then leave. Sloane noticed her presence and walked over.
“Well, if it isn’t the elusive Miss Cougar. You are very difficult to pin down. I’ve called you several times and you refused to answer. I think you must screen your calls.”
“I suppose I do,” she acknowledged.
“So why not answer mine? I’m not the bogeyman.”
“Because I know if I get too close to you again, I will succumb to your charms.”
“So yield away, I don’t mind. You might even really enjoy getting physical with me,” he breathed, his eyes so close to hers that she could see the small flecks in their golden depths.
“I would be just one more notch in your bedpost, Sloane.”
“Maybe and maybe not - you can only know if you give it a whirl.”
She reared back her arm, slapping him across his jaw. It caused heads to turn. Luke rushed to her.
“What’s wrong, Caitlin?” he asked, staring at Sloane whose paw was on his tender jaw.
“What’s wrong, Caitlin, you ask? She just gave me a clout to my chops and you want to know if she’s okay?” snarled Sloane.
“I am sure you said something obscene to her,” growled Luke.
“I only told her that I didn’t mind if she fell in my bed. Most would consider that to be flattering, Mr. Leoparde.”
“Fuck you, Simba,” snarled Luke.
Luke wanted to tear in to the lion but Sloane towered over him to such an extent that he decided, wisely, that he couldn’t win that battle and would only be laid up from the results. He took Caitlin’s paw and led her out the door and into the parking area. There he opened her car door, helped her in and closed it.
“Caitlin, if you keep playing around with that guy, you will end up in his bed. This is just a well intended warning. Take it easy. Bye.”
Without another word, Luke reentered the Pub. He ended up in Carey
Caracal’s bed that night and invited her to Mombasa for the
following weekend.
Shane Simba lay back in his bed, smoking a cigarette. He had finally succeeded in making love to his wife without too much distraction from his ailing ribs.
“That was marvelous, darling,” said Betty.
“It will get better. I’m going to the office tomorrow. If I can screw again, I can work.”
Sam Simba stood in Shane’s office. It was his brother’s first day back at the State House.
“Shane, are you ready to face some repair work with the pride? Mom is over her bullshit about Betty and so am I. We’re ready to be a team again.”
“If all of this change is sincere, I am, Sam.”
“It is, Shane. You have my word on that.”
"Is Mom having her usual Sunday lunch this week?”
“Sure is.”
“We’ll be there, Sam.”
Sloane Simba watched Luke Leoparde put Caitlin in her car. He stood in the shadow of the trees until Luke returned to the pub and then drove off in his Mercedes. He pulled in the parking lot of Lyon Towers and then changed his mind about going home. He turned his car around and went out the road that led to Caitlin’s cottage.
She opened the door, something he wasn’t sure she would do. He entered the cozy living room where a small antique lamp cast a dim glow. She put a Scotch bottle on a small table and he took the chair beside it. She sat on the chintz covered sofa. They both lit cigarettes.
“I’m glad you let me in. I was afraid you wouldn’t.”
“I don’t know why I did, actually.”
“Perhaps, because we have issues between us that need to be addressed.”
“I don’t know why we have anything to do with each other, Sloane.”
“For my part, I am seriously attracted to you, as I believe you are to me.”
She didn’t answer but sat with her legs curled under her, smoking. The smoke from their cigarettes rose to the ceiling and was dispersed by the slowly turning fan blades. Sloane stood up and put down his empty glass.
“I am inviting you to the Simba pride Sunday brunch at my Aunt’s home. I will pick you up, if you want to go with me.”
“I’d like that, Sloane. I’ll be ready. What time will you come for me?”
“Around ten, drinks are served before hand. Great Bloody Marys created by Roy Lee.”
He left with no attempt to kiss her. She heard the smooth engine of his Mercedes as it left her drive.
Luke Leoparde invited Carey Caracal to Mombasa that weekend. The weather was splendid and the psychiatrist took to the water sports so loved by Luke and the Ashley Lyon’s. She fit in well with the laid back atmosphere of Mombasa in general.
Dr. Carey Caracal, psychiatrist and Luke’s new squeeze in front of his Mombasa home….
Geraniums and bougainvillea bloomed brightly in Sarah Lee Simba’s front yard as her pride gathered for her traditional Sunday feast. Excitement was high among the pride members. Tookie had come down from Mombasa the night before with her new human husband. Roy Lee arrived at 8:30 to build a fire in the grill and prepare pitchers of his excellent Bloody Mary mix. The group began to gather. Lucy and Alexander were among the first to arrive with their cub, James. Leander puttered about helping her sister, ashes falling from her continuous cigarettes. Roy Lee stepped on them when necessary to prevent burns on his mother’s shag rugs. Shane and Betty arrived with Staci and Sean. Arlon Lyon was in Mombasa with Leah and Ashley.
It can’t be said that everyone fell into each other’s arms for this wasn’t the case. But Betty had brought a beautiful cake created by Babs and Sarah Lee took it, graciously thanking Betty and telling her that her hairstyle was very becoming to her. Sarah Lee had even talked with Captain Dick late into the night before. The surprise was Sloane with Caitlin. Leander took her son aside.
“You like this one, Sloane. This is twice you’ve brought her into the bosom of the pride,” she whispered.
“Don’t get excited, Mom. Bosom is the key word, here,” he joked.
Caitlin was charmed by the Simba pride as they were her. She began to lose her fear of the powerful animals in the midst of their sociable and affectionate atmosphere. Chris Simba groaned at the sight of Caitlin with Sloane. He wracked up another loss to one of the more glittering pride males. Lucy was a bit amazed to see her other cousin involved with a Simba male. But was pleased it wasn’t her husband, Alexander, as Linda Cougar had managed to be. Sefu and Cassandra even surprised everyone by arriving with their children from Nairobi. Chloe Cougar Simba wasn’t a bit taken aback by Caitlin’s presence. She was well aware of the Simba males and their sex appeal. Of course the only female present who been wed to two, was not making a point of this bizarre fact. Betty stuck to Shane’s side like glue, making sure his needs were met. She made sure he was comfortably seated in the best chair in the living room and energetically brought more drinks when his emptied. Sam looked on in amazement tinged with a bit of amusement. Betty had never treated him this way. He had been the one to try and make her comfy. His function had been the caterer in their marriage. As ego bruising as it was to admit, he realized that Betty had never loved him, nor probably Ashley, as she did his brother, Shane. He didn’t let this bother him further. He had Allison who was showing off their four new sons to Bubba’s wives as he watched.
Leah went with Ashley on a safari of great distance. She flew the plane the entire way, gaining the flight time necessary to get her license. Since Ashley was one of her instructors, he was happy to sign off on the certificate. She was hired as a full fledged bush pilot with the Leoparde-Lyon Safari Club, making her an even more fundamental part of her husband’s life. Leah, with her sparkling and warm personality, was an instant hit with the other employees and clients. She took her first safari group on her own. It was a day flight into the Serengeti in Tanzania. The people were enthralled with Leah and booked again for 2007 on the contingency that she be their pilot and guide. Ashley Lyon realized that he had made the match of his life in his young wife. He was filled with pride in Leah. He honestly could not remember the last female he had dallied with in an extra marital frolic – nor did he wish to.
Leah Lyon the day she received her pilot’s license and was hired by the safari club.
Leah Lyon treated both of her parents to a ride in one of the smaller Cessna’s owned by the safari club. Janice Jaguar Gorilla picked up Roy Lee Simba at the studio one mid afternoon. They got into the small plane with their daughter at the wheel. No one noticed until they were in the air that Roy Lee had become very silent. Janice and Leah were chatting gaily when Janice looked at her ex-husband and current lover. The fur on his face was wet with perspiration.
“Roy Lee, what’s wrong? You are so silent and you seem to be in shock,” said Janice, putting a paw to the superstar’s face.
“I hate this thing, Jan. Can we land now, Leah, I’m feeling very sick?” he roared.
“Dad, you fly all the time on the studio’s jet.”
“That’s not the same thing as this little doodle bug plane. The studio’s plane is a 747 for god’s sake, Leah.”
“Dad, this plane is just as safe. Uncle Shane crashed in one of these and survived,” protested Leah, thinking she had made a calming statement.
“Shit, Leah, land this grasshopper right now, please and don’t remind me that this was like the one Shane crashed in unless you want me to find a parachute and jump the hell out.”
When she had banked toward the runway, landed and taxied to the hangar, she and her mother burst out laughing. Roy Lee, once disembarked, made a hasty run for the bathroom.