She noticed his attentions, and she made every effort to show she was spurning him, even going to the trouble to change paths once and take the long route to the watering hole. As if that were not enough, she would talk with her friends in his hearing and insult his “infantile attempts” to woo her.
Finally, one day, Kombi decided to force the issue. He ran a few steps ahead of her, blocked her path and blurted out, “Wajanja, we need to talk.”
“Wrong. You need to talk. Why don’t you find someone that wants to listen.”
“That’s very cold, Jannie.”
“My friends call me that. You can call me Wajanja. Now repeat after me--‘so long, Wajanja.’”
She tried to push past him, but he moved in front of her again. “You’ve never even given me a chance. I have the right to just one fair chance, don’t I?”
“No. Love is a privilege, not a right. So is conversation.”
“Well, just grant me the right this once and I won’t press the issue further, OK?”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Very well. You are not my type. I want the quiet, sensitive type like Habu. If he wasn’t smitten with Lisani, I’d be all over him like green on leaves.” She sighed. “I’d leave the pride for him. I don’t think Miss Priss would. Love is wasted on the wrong people.”
“I know. Deep down inside I am really sensitive and--uh--quiet. But I have to put on a brave front for the others. See, I can even cry.” He tried to force tears to come, screwing up his face into all kinds of promising but unproductive expressions. He turned and bit his paw. Then he got tears all right, but ended up hopping around, holding his forepaw to his chest and licking it.
She laughed at him and said, "You never had a serious thought in your whole life!"
He looked at her, hurt. "Oh really? I’ve had lots of serious thoughts." Turned his back to her and sat down.
"You wanted to talk. Well, this is your chance. Name one," she said derisively. “Can you even name one?”
"Well, for one, I have to leave the Pride someday, and I have nightmares about it. I mean, I'll have Togo and all, but I’ll never see my mother again and I’ll never see you again, Jannie. No matter how you feel about me, I love you and I’ll miss you and hope you fall in love with someone who can love you back. Sometimes I was dumb enough to think I might get you to notice me, or even like me a little. I say dumb enough because love can make clever guys act so stupid. Well, I hope you got a good laugh out of it--at least one of us will."
"No, I wouldn’t laugh at you."
"Daria is crazy about me. If I would say hello to her, she would melt like dirt in a good rain. But I don't really care--you know--and it's sad that she wants what she can't have, and so do I. Maybe Daria and I are more alike than I realized. I mean, we both are grabbing at the wind, and we'll never catch it."
She looked at him intently. "You know, I believe that somewhere VERY DEEP DOWN INSIDE you really do have a thoughtful side."
"Thanks--I guess." He started away. “Don’t worry, I promised I wouldn’t bother you again, and I won’t.”
"Wait." She came, nuzzled his sad face and said, "I'm sorry I laughed at you. I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings. I’m not really a mean person."
“Aw, no problem.” He nuzzled her back. "Does this mean I can see you again?"
"Why not. Maybe tonight."
"I'd like that. Heck, I'd love that. I feel like I can talk to you. I could tell you things I wouldn’t share with another living soul. But Wajanja, if you laugh at me or you tell anyone else what I say, I’ll just die!"
“I’d never do that!” She looked into his sparkling eyes and smiled. “I’ve misjudged you, Kombi. You’re really very sweet.”
He smiled back. “Do you think so?”
“No, but I’ll still see you tonight.” She reached over and kissed his cheek.
He walked away, a blissful, innocent smile on his face. Togo met him behind the bushes. "So, did you pull the old 'grabbing at the wind' story on her?"
"Yep. Works every time!"
Togo nudged him and grinned. “The Love Doctor strikes again.”
He rubbed his cheek where she kissed it. “I wish you wouldn’t put it that way. I’m going to see if she’ll come with me. This is serious.” He looked off into the distance for a while, then rolled on his back in the grass. Togo joined him.
“So, Togo, have you narrowed down the field?”
“Who, me?” Togo had an embarrassed grin on his face.
“Who is she? Don’t hold out on me now.”
“You’d laugh at me.”
“No I wouldn’t.”
“Well, it’s Lisani.”
“Miss Priss??” Kombi giggled.
“There you go laughing at me!”
“I’m sorry,” Kombi said. “Really I am. But you and Lisani? You know she’s stuck on Habu.”
“So is Wajanja. But that doesn’t stop you from trying. I guess we’re grabbing at the wind.” Togo took his paw and ruffled Kombi’s mane. “Hey, I hope you catch it, you dog.”
“What the heck. Why don’t you hit on Lisani? I mean, maybe one of us will get lucky.”
“You don’t ‘hit on’ a girl like Lisani. And I don’t suggest trying it on Wajanja if you want her to marry you. ‘Get lucky’ indeed!”
CHAPTER: PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW
Togo and Kombi were showing changes in their maturing bodies. They lost that long-legged look that once made them appear awkward. Their manes were filling out nicely, their chests were broadening, and one day out of the sheer will to make a grand noise, they both let out with a roar that would have made Ugas quite proud.
Uzuri would look at them appraisingly, and some of the time she was proud of the fine lions they were becoming. Other times she would mourn the loss of their cubhood and the approach of their commoner’s mantlement. She would eventually have to tell Simba that they were sons of a King and entitled to a royal mantlement hosted by their father. And doing so, she would also be saying her farewell to her old life and old home. Uzuri loved Ugas and longed to be by his side, but his words came back to haunt her. It would never be easy to leave old friends and old haunts and start again. But if Togo and Kombi could do it, she could too. When she was depressed, she would close her eyes and look inward at her dream--Ugas by her side as Togo and Kombi stood on Pride Kopje and surveyed their kingdom.
She had not discussed this with her sons yet. She could not risk either of them making an indiscreet remark. Uzuri had planned out what she would say and how--she did not want her departure to be spoiled by misunderstandings or hard feelings.
And so knowing nothing of their mother’s plans, Togo and Kombi spent much of their time fawning on Simba, trying to ply him with favors. Simba was utterly surprised when they stopped calling him “big guy” and started calling him “Sir.” Kombi brought him a hare Uzuri had caught for him to eat, and Togo even dragged part of a gazelle for him clear up Pride Rock so he could wake up to a surprise breakfast.
Privately, Nala asked Simba if there was a way to let them remain. “They’re trying so hard to please you. There’s is no hate in them--they will not turn on you the way your Uncle did.”
“That’s not the problem,” Simba replied. “I’d trust them with my life, if it came to that. They’re afraid of their destiny, Nala. I don’t blame them, for I know the ways of the ‘big world,’ and they have reason to fear it.” He sighed and glumly ate the haunch.
Later that same day, Togo and Kombi offered to help him with the border patrol. “You have no brother to help you,” Togo explained in what sounded like a prepared statement. “Without a Prince Consort, you have to go around doing everything for yourself and have so little time to spend with Nala.” Togo looked over at Kombi who subtly nodded approval and he continued; “We insist on taking the Western Plain.”