Shane Simba was sent on another trip by President Ralph Lyon. This was not a junket of extended length being just ten days. Shane asked Betty Chimpo if his children could stay with her during his absence. She was delighted to comply, knowing this was probably his way of easing his cubs into recognizing that she was the one he wanted to be with.

Staci Simba was very happy about this arrangement. Not only was Betty next door to her favorite cousin, Leah Simba Lyon but Arlon Lyon lived with his mother. Arlon and Staci had become very close friends. Although Arlon was at an age that he scoffed at the idea of having a female friend, he still enjoyed the pretty Staci. Staci came to all of Arlon’s soccer games. She has submitted her name for being chosen a cheerleader for the All Star Junior Soccer Team for which Arlon now plays. The only one not particularly thrilled with the arrangement was young Sean Simba. But this problem was alleviated when Leah picked him up daily to play with her cubs that ranged from young to very young. Her sons, Sim and Adam were close to Sean’s age. In the evenings after Betty had completed her news broadcast at WMM-TV, she would come home with McDonalds for the children. She would then take Sean swimming while Staci and Arlon played video games.

On one particular night, Betty was in her study editing video from her Amazon adventure. Staci came and joined her. She explained to the young cub what she was doing and showed her some of the footage.

“Did you and Daddy have fun, Betty?”

“Oh, yes, Staci. It was a wonderful trip.”

“Do you love Daddy?”

“Yes, Staci. I do – very much. Are you bothered by this? I don’t want you to be.”

“No. Neither is Sean. We both want Daddy to be happy. We like you too, Betty.”

Betty’s eyes filled with tears.

“And I love both of you, Staci. You may not believe this yet, but I truly do.”

"I believe you, Betty."

They spoke more of Betty’s project before Betty bid Staci goodnight, seeing her to the guestroom before going to her own.

Ralph Lyon had an interview of a sort he disliked. It was with the strident Carolyn Cape Buffalo, Cappie’s ex-heifer. She stood in the presidential office wearing one of her trademark hats.

“What can I help you with, Carolyn?” asked Ralph, not terribly anxious to hear.

“Mr. President, I know that the First Lioness is very enthusiastic about American life and customs. So in this spirit I would like to introduce the idea of monetary compensation for all the cape buffalo killed by lions in the past. That would be so American, Mr. President. Don’t you think?”

I was highly amused. I looked at Ralph who seemed the opposite. He removed his glasses.

“I just don’t know Caroline. This would set a precedent for other species. We would have to compensate those killed by crocodiles as well. It would be very complicated, not mention over taxing the budget. Why don’t you take this up with the Vice President when he returns?”

“Another lion and a young whippersnapper at that. I will take this up in other quarters, Mr. President. Thank you for your time,” she huffed, passing a bit of gas on her way out the door.

Carolyn Cape Buffalo....

Shane Simba returned to the Mara and spent his first night in Betty’s home with his children present.

Carolyn Cape Buffalo, true to her word, consulted District Judge Bo Bonobo who had retained his private law practice in addition to his district court posting. She stated her case, begging him to address the issue of compensation for cape buffalo killed by lions. He took the case which became known as Cape Buffalo vs Masai Mara. Bo Bonobo had no great fondness for lions, feeling that he had been passed over for more lions in important government posts.

Caroline Cheetah was about to pack and remove herself from her home turf when she made the acquaintance of Glenda Gorilla of WMM-TV. She met the gorilla entertainment anchor one evening over drinks at the Watering Hole Pub. Glenda was part of a media group that gathered each evening to unwind after working hours. Caroline, being head news honcho at the Masai Mara Daily, was a natural to join that crowd. The subject of Betty Chimpo’s evening newscast was brought up by Glenda. It was easy to see that the gorilla felt no affection for the very successful chimpanzee.

“I absolutely detest Betty,” snarled Caroline.

“What do you have against her?” asked Glenda with a decided leer.

“My departed sister’s husband is in her clutches. We think she may have taken advantage of his grief,” replied Caroline playing the sympathy card for all it was worth.

“That’s awful,” answered a youngish reporter at the Daily.

“So what if he needs some comfort? What’s it to you, Caroline?”

This question was posed by Judy, Lucy Simba’s lioness friend, who was a veteran reporter at the Daily and saw through Caroline Cheetah.

“It’s just unseemly is all, Judy. After all their are his children, my niece and nephew. We don't want to see them hurt and Betty is a very disreputable character,” growled Caroline.

“I think you may have wanted Shane Simba for yourself. Lots of females do.”

“That’s absurd, Judy. Why would I want my brother-in-law?”

“As I said, lots of females want that hunky son-of-a-bitch.”

Later, after many rounds of strong drink, Glenda invited Caroline to a final nightcap at her Watering Hole condo. The two hit it off.

“I think we can make sure that Betty Chimpo gets her just deserts,” commented Glenda, lifting her glass to Caroline’s.

“Damn right. Here’s to us and the down fall of Miss Chimpo,” stated Caroline with a click to her new friends proffered glass.

Having completed the publicity junket for his latest film, Micah Mbube started rehearsals for Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the arts center. Chad Cheetah, deciding to try his hand at acting as well as writing plays, rehearsed as Duncan to Micah’s Macbeth. Christine Cheetah would slip off whenever possible to watch her lover on stage. She was falling more in love with the lion actor each day.

Micah rehearses for the title role in Macbeth....

Shane Simba returned to his home on State House Road after the night spent with Betty and his children. After seeing his cubs to bed the following night, he joined Betty for a late drink.

“How did it go, Fifi?”

“I think well, darling. Staci seemed quite happy. Sean spent oodles time at Leah’s playing with Sim and Adam.”

“I think things are going smoothly at this point, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

He put down his drink and pulled her to him.

“Now for the real important stuff, Fifi. I’m hungering for you.”

“I want you too,” she said, unzipping his fly.

The campaign to embarrass and discredit Betty Chimpo started insidiously in the mid section of the Masai Mara Daily. Glenda’s monkey photographer caught Betty topless on a private beach in Malindi. Shane Simba was present but Glenda didn’t want shots of him. She had already been castigated by Irving Impala on that subject. She gave Caroline Cheetah copies of the pictures for the Daily and showed her own on her afternoon segment of Entertainment World on WMM-TV.

Betty caught topless on a private beach.....