TO PAWS OR NOT TO PAWS
We can let circumstances rule us or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.
Earl Nightingale
Shane tells his wife that his teeth are perceived as being sexy....
“Alex, I am thinking about getting hands instead of paws. Todd Tigeres, the cosmetic surgeon, is doing that operation very successfully now,” said Shane Simba.
“Don’t you bloody dare, the next thing you will want is to have your teeth bonded and that I shall hate,” replied Alexandra Simba sitting on her husband’s lap.
“But you wouldn’t mind the paw replacement?” teased Shane Simba laughing and nuzzling his adored wife’s neck.
“Why would you want to replace your paws?”
“I’m bipedal so why the necessity? Human hands are all the rage now, I hear.”
“You no longer hunt so why the teeth?”
“Because I’ve been told my teeth are sexy,” he joshed, kissing her with gusto.
“Oh really?” she laughed. “By whom?”
“The others.”
“I forget you’ve been privy to hominids other than me,” she giggled. “I love you just the way you are, Luv.”
Betty made her way to the Kenya Medical Facility on the Mara River. She was fulfilling the request Jane Leoparde had made in regard to interviewing Juma Mnyama and Trevor Tau about their recent medals of accomplishment awarded them by the President. First she saw Juma who welcomed her warmly to his office but was restrained in his reaction to the plaque his father-in-law had presented him. She left his office realizing that Juma Mnyama disapproved of Shane Simba and was reluctant to say anything about his award.
Betty with Trevor Tau at the Kenya Medical Facility on the Mara River....
Trevor Tau also welcomed her cordially and was more forthcoming about the gratitude he felt for his award. Betty sat with him in his office and chatted further about his malaria prevention program that had cut the rate of infection by forty percent in Kenya. They drank a cup of Earl Grey tea during the interview. When Betty was about to leave, the lion doctor surprised her.
“Betty, would you consider it too forward of me to invite you to dinner one night? I have long been an admirer of your books, even the more racy renditions.”
“Why thank you, Trevor, I wouldn’t consider it forward at all.”
“How about this coming Friday? I think the birthday bash for Ralph Lyon is the next night.”
“Sounds delightful, do you know where I live?” she asked, putting her recorder in her purse and rising to leave.
“Down a door or two from Leah Simba’s house, isn’t it? Yours is the one with the guard gates, I believe.”
“Yes it is. Those gates are the remains of my having once being married to the vice president who …well you know the story, I’m sure. I’ll see you on Friday.”
“Eight?”
it shall be. Good bye, Trevor, and thanks for the interview.”
It was raining the night of Ralph Lyon’s birthday bash at the civic center. Lachlan continued to urge me on in my dressings in most unusual form. I hadn’t a clue to his nervousness. The dismal weather didn’t dampen the jubilant party goers as we reached the center. I was seated on the dais at a long table with Shane and Alexandra Simba, Ralph and Mildred Lyon, Daniel and Stella (Simba) Lyon, former Vice President Bernard Cougar with his wife, Sylvia and for some reason, Lachlan. Shane spoke first, lauding our former President, Ralph Lyon and wishing him a happy birthday. Ralph joined him at the podium, thanking his successor for the evening and the declared holiday. Then the two presidents, current and former, were handed a box from which Shane removed a medal on a spectacular chain. Holding it, the two turned to face me.
left: Shane looks on as Ralph speaks of me and the award around my neck... right: the medal in detail.....
“For service rendered two both of us in our roles as leaders,” said Ralph, “We are awarding Maurice Monkee the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya – our nation’s highest honor. Maurice has been invaluable to President Shane Simba and me, before him, in our struggles to bring Kenya into a new world order where animals and humans share in the life of this country as equals. He has witnessed the changes in our nation and in many ways has helped make them possible.”
Ralph turned toward me and asked me to the podium. Tears were streaming down my face. Now I knew the reason Lachlan had been invited to sit on the dais with us. Shane placed the medal around my neck and both presidents saluted me. I have to admit to being too emotional to get much of speech out but I did manage a few words between bouts of choking up. In addition, I was treated to a standing ovation as Ralph had also been. After the ceremony, we went to two large adjoining rooms for a banquet and dancing. Everyone I knew was there. Charlotte Elephanti encircled Ralph in her trunk and carried him around the room. I noticed Shane removing himself in case Charlotte should treat him to the same.
In short it was a wonderful evening. Lachlan and I dragged in our house at 2:00 am. When we woke the next morning, we were still dressed in varying semblances of evening wear.
Ashley Lyon was called off a safari out of Mombasa by Luke Leoparde.
“Ash, Lucy gave birth to two cubs – a male and female,” he shouted enthusiastically through the phone.
“I’ll be there in a few days, Luke. Give Lucy my love.”
“Dammit, Ash, Trey Timbo can cover the rest of that safari for you. You need to get back to the Mara post haste. It would be a pisser for you not to,” scolded Luke.
“Okay, man, don’t get bent out of shape. I’ll be there right away – as soon as I can get my plane in the air.”
Before Ashley could even ring off from his pal, he got another call on his cell phone.
“Ash, get your ass back to the Mara. You have two new cubs,” roared his father, Ralph. “I’m expecting to see you at the Exotic Animal Clinic before afternoon.”
There was no arguing with his dad who rang off before Ashley could make a response.
“Shit,” he groaned, throwing his things in his bag and kissing Tookie Simba goodbye.
Leah Simba had called Jack Tarzan and invited him to her home for dinner on the same Friday night that her former lover, Trevor Tau, was escorting Betty Chimpo into the entrance of OKAPI’S. Both dinners went well and ended well. Jack made love to Leah after dinner in her upstairs bedroom. Ashley had the children for the weekend having been called home due to his wife giving birth to new cubs. Betty, having arrived in her driveway after a lovely meal at the ritziest restaurant in the Mara, got into such a fiery necking session in his automobile, they hastily piled out and made their way to Betty’s boudoir. They had removed each other’s clothing on the way in their haste to get in bed and satisfy their overheated libidos. Shane had Betty’s cubs by him for the weekend and Jason was spending his on a camping trip with his father, Sam Simba. The only ones present in the house, other than Betty and Trevor, were Babs and Wilda Wildebeest.
The next day, Wilda glanced at the discarded clothes in the hall on her way to the kitchen and morning coffee.
“Whose clothes are those, Babs?” inquired Wilda, lighting her first cigarette of the day.
“That lion doctor that took her to dinner last night,” allowed Babs.
“Good God, Betty needs get the franchise for Lion Country Safari and open one right here in the Mara. She can be the tamer – actually she could run the whole show just by her self.”
Babs giggled. “You got that right. Betty loves those lions of hers.”
Ashley with Lucy, making it all up to her.....
Lucy Cougar Lyon, having given birth, reverted to her usually loving mode. She adored Ashley and he has always responded exceedingly well to worship. The cubs, as all feline offspring, were adorable and their parents doted. The Christening was set for the following weekend in the First Church of the Ascending Predator. Ashley and Lucy named their first children together Lucinda Mildred and Cougar Adamson. Ashley began to stay home once more except for the usual safari work. Their household consisted of Lucy’s three cubs by Alexander Simba and Ashley’s daughter with Leah, Imani Janice Lyon. Lucy oversaw the kitchen staff and created a marvelous meal to which she invited her in-laws, Mildred and Ralph Lyon and her parents, Bernard and Sylvia Cougar. Ashley sat at the head of the table and charmed all with his funny safari tales and good humor. He and Lucy seemed renewed as a couple. Both sets of parents, being best friends to the other, prayed it would last.
Betty Chimpo, having failed in her marriage to Shane Simba had climbed back on her pedestal and had three male lions infatuated with her. It is always noted that confidence engenders admiration. In Betty’s case, a renewed sense of herself was paying off.
Jack Tarzan, being very well grounded in his own self-esteem, was more than happy to sit back and let the scenario play out on its own. He and Betty were totally compatible and both writers. He was beginning to realize that if he ever made a commitment to a female, it would probably be Betty. For now, however, things were cool as they already existed.
Pete, the lion candidate, was beginning to realize that Betty was vital to his sense of well being and happiness. He still didn’t know what to make of his tumultuous emotions but was feeling out the situation.
Dr. Trevor Tau, being a serious soul, realized that Betty had stirred him like no other, not even Leah Simba. He, being cautious, was attempting to think things through before taking the next step.
Betty had hit pay dirt where her preferred leonine subjects of romance were concerned.
A few weeks later, Alexandra gave one of her unique parties at the State Mansion where she has had a wall knocked out between two major party rooms downstairs and created one beautifully decorated ballroom where tables can be set or dances can be held. The movers and shakers of the Mara were invited to this first party utilizing the redecoration. The theme was retro and a forties mode. A wonderful baboon band played dance music of that era and Cole Porter was a major theme. The concept was brilliant and exquisitely executed by the talented First Lady. Betty attended with Lachlan and me. Jack Tarzan arrived with Luke and Jane Leoparde. Ashley was dancing cheek to cheek with his wife, Lucy, in what appeared to us bystanders, as romantic. Shane Simba came toward us and drew Betty to the dance floor. The band had struck up the highly romantic Night and Day. When he went to draw Betty in to his arms for the dance, she gasped.
“When did you get those and from what source?” she asked, examining his recently acquired hands.
Shane threw back his head and laughed. “From a source you know well – that genius Dr. Todd Tigeres. I would have gotten them sooner if I’d known what fun you can have with them.”
With that said he pinched her butt. She let out a giggling yelp.
“How does Alex like them?”
“She didn’t want me to have them at first but when she realized all they could do and how they improved ‘things’, she became quite pleased. You’re very on top of your game these days, Fifi. I’m always reading about you.”
“I am very contented now, Shane.”
“Good for you and by the way, my wife didn't prompt me to dance with you. I'm here on my own,” he said and pulled her tightly against him.
She could smell the fragrance of the expensive cologne in his mane, feel his muscled chest. She had been looking at the intent sea green eyes and realized he still made her weak in the knees. She grew a bit dizzy and missed a step almost tripping over his spit polished shoes. She managed to regain her footing and once again looked into the brilliance of the green eyes. She dropped his hands.
“I shall never stop loving you,” she said and walked back to where we stood.
“Maurice, may I borrow Lachlan for a dance?” she asked.
“You may do that, Betts. Just don’t tire him. I want the last five.”
Shane demonstrates what his new hands can do in a dance with Alexandra
On the dance floor with Lachlan, she watched Shane go back to Alexandra and put his new hands all over her, nuzzling her neck as he did. She realized that Shane Simba was the consummate sexual being – alluring physically, savvy and charismatic. He could have any female he wanted. At least he had been hers for a while. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut to prevent the tears that threatened. If she thought she had been cured she had fooled herself. Then a bright thought followed that drearier one. These days her love for Shane was manageable and she was having a great time