He slipped her an extra piece of Tiko root and said, “I shouldn’t do this. I’ll spoil your appetite for red meat.”
“Thank you, Rafiki.”
She snapped up the treat and closed her eyes, savoring the fragrant treat. “Will you tell me a story now?”
He looked at her with a smile but a trace of reproof. “You forgot to thank Aiheu for your food.”
“But YOU gave it to me.”
“I know, but when you look closely enough, all blessings come from Aiheu.” He said, “I know just the story, Missy. You listen carefully and you might learn something from this foolish old monkey.”
“King Amalkozi, the son of Baba, had a son named Zara. And Amalkozi loved Zara with a marvelous love. Indeed, between his wife and son he divided his whole heart, and Aiheu whom he had not seen he had no great love for.
“’You should thank the Lord your God before you eat,’ the shamans would warn Amalkozi. ‘He has provided for you, and it is at your peril that you neglect him.’
“’I will thank my lionesses before I eat,’ he said. ‘It is they who work hard that I might not go hungry.’
“And then one day when Zara was playing with his sister M’hetu, a giant eagle swept down from the sky and grabbed him in his talons. And before Amalkozi could stop him, the eagle bore Zara away screaming.
Misha’s ears flattened. “That’s terrible!”
“Hold on, Honey Tree,” Rafiki said, patting her cheek. “I’m not done yet.
“After this, Amalkozi grieved as no lions grieved before and few have grieved since. And when the shamans told him that the Lord had taken his son, he said angrily that where he had once neglected God, now he hated him and with just cause. And for six years the name of Aiheu was corban in his presence, and he would not bless the lionesses before the hunt.
“Then one day a strange lion showed up asking to see the king. He called Bavisi by name and several members of the household as well, so that Bavisi was afraid and suspected magic.
“Bavisi fell before his brother the King and said, ‘The strange lion will tell his name to no one but the King.’ And King Amalkozi wondered if he was being challenged, and he went out to greet the stranger with kind words while judging his strength as an enemy.
“But when the strange lion came before the King, M’hetu, the faithful sister humbled herself before him and cried, ‘Behold it is Zara who once was lost but now is found. Look, my King, my brother the cub has returned a lion!’ And the King looked closely and saw the scars on his back from the talons and knew that it was his son. He wept and lay on the ground, pawing the sky and praising Aiheu for his mercy. And Amalkozi put out a decree that all lions should thank God before they eat and remember the Lord before they sleep.
“Now this, my child, is the importance of the story. That Aiheu loved Amalkozi and returned his son BEFORE he repented, for Aiheu loves all of his children.”
“But why did he tell the eagle to take away his son?”
“Who says he told the eagle to take away his son! But if he had prayed to Aiheu and asked his help, he might not have had to wait six years.”
Misha bowed her head quickly. “Aiheu abamami! Aiheu provides!” She looked up sheepishly and said, “I don’t want to take any chances.”
ASK YOLANDA:
Yolanda was trying to rest. She was at an age gracefully referred to as “looking westward,” and she needed more sleep than she once did when her carriage was straight, her stomach was firm and her step was lively.
“Oh good!” young Misha said, gamboling over and rubbing against her face. “You’re not busy.”
With a sigh, Yolanda rolled over. She managed a smile despite her aches and pains and reached out with a comforting paw to draw her granddaughter to her side and begin grooming her. “Something on your mind?”
“It’s not really important, but I was just wondering....”
“About what?” Yolanda began to groom behind Misha’s ears and the cub half closed her eyes in luxury.
“All these spots. I have more spots than Wajanja. I wish they would go away. My mom’s spots never all went away like Nala’s did. Does that mean I’m going to be spotty all my life?”
“I hope so,” Yolanda said.
The answer got Misha’s full attention. “Why?”
“Those cub spots were left where Aiheu touched you when you were born. He blesses all new cubs.”
“Boy, he sure must have blessed me one good!”
Yolanda smiled, amused. “When the spots stay on after you’re grown, it’s a good sign. It’s a blessing, and I think it looks beautiful.” She drew close and said, “Your mother’s spots used to drive your father wild. Lions think lionesses with spots are extra special.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It probably makes no difference, but why tell THEM that? Hey, if you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em!” Yolanda whispered in her ear, “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but have you ever noticed how many spots Isha has?”
“Whoa!” Misha giggled.
“Didn’t I tell you!” Yolanda fondled her with a paw. “You’re very beautiful, and the older you get the more beautiful you’ll become.”
“That Wajanja thinks she’s so smart and so cute! But you know what? She’s the only one without a steady boyfriend!”
“Aiheu abamami!” Yolanda said with a good laugh. “There are words for cubs like her, and someday when you’re older you’ll hear some of them. Remember now, what I tell you lioness to lioness doesn’t get spread around, OK?”
“Sure!” Misha kissed her and rubbed against her face. “I love you, Grandma.”
“I love you too.”
Misha trundled away happily, and Yolanda watched with a smile as her granddaughter disappeared into the distance. Then she laid her head down, took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
The African sun warmed her body, loosening her joints and making her drowsy. She rolled over on her back and let the warmth soak in her stomach, then turned on her sleeping side. With a contented grunt, she closed her eyes and waited for sleep to bear her away on quiet velvet paws. All was at peace.
“Oh good, you’re still here!”
One of Yolanda’s eyes opened slowly. She saw Togo barreling down on her just in time to pull her stomach tight before impact. Eyes shining, Togo climbed over her body to put his arms around her large neck and rub her with grunts of love and joy.
“How did you know I needed a good hug, Honey Tree?”
“Just a lucky guess?” Togo said, kissing her with his warm tongue and nuzzling her until she had to smile and then snuggling under her chin.
“Where’s your brother?”
“Over here!” Kombi said, walking over her back, across her ribs and down the other side to end up snuggled by her side.
Kombi watched the tuft on the end of Yolanda’s tail intently. It was all he could do not to pounce on it. “Togo and I were just talking about storms.”
“Arguing about it,” Togo said.
“Whatever. The point is, Togo says lightning is falling stars and I say that’s just nonsense. Everybody knows lightning is when the rain catches on fire! That’s what Wajanja says.”
“Good old Wajanja,” Yolanda said with a sigh. “Thunder and lightning happens because One Who Brings Rain roars a warning to the Makei. He's tells them that the ground is about to be blessed. Makei cannot stand the rain because it is holy and hurts them. But One-who- brings-rain is merciful and would not even hurt the Makei.”
“Wow!” Kombi said. “Mom was right. When you have a question, ask Yolanda.”