Mabatu was living up to his promise. Those who thought handsome babies often grow up to be plain had to admit that there were exceptions to every rule. At one year of age, Baba was still a youngster, but his beauty would turn the heads of the female cubs. Like warm sunshine was his smile, and his walk was a carefully choreographed dance of joy that delighted the eye and gladdened the heart.
Lela padded over to him at the cistern as he stopped to draw refreshment and watched him with deepest admiration. “Baba? What’cha doing now?”
“I’m seeing what I’d look like with big round wrinkles.”
She laughed. “I don’t think you COULD look ugly if you tried.”
“Oh really?” He crossed his eyes and covered the end of his nose with his tongue.
“Eww, gross!” She turned sideways, and bending her body away from him, she said, “How about my long, furry tongue!” She opened her mouth and passed her tail along her opposite cheek and wiggled it.
“Cool! How about a big wet kiss with it!” He did likewise. “Like this?”
“Yeah! That’s so sick!”
“Hey, that’s nothing. Wanna hear me roar?”
“You, roar??”
“Sure I can. Just listen....” He gulped air several times, then with a look of supreme concentration, he held up his snout and vented it in a long, soulful belch.
“You win!” she said, giggling. “I could NEVER do that!”
He sprang at her and put his paws around her neck. Giggling, she wrestled with him, planning all the time to let him win but not to let it show.
Back and forth they swayed, standing on hind limbs with a supreme effort to unseat each other and pin shoulders to the ground. Then Mabatu lost his footing and rolled backwards. With a loud splash, he landed in the icy cistern, paddling in shock through the chilly waters to the side.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Lela said, helping pull him out by the scruff of the neck. As he stood dripping and shivering, she kissed his face. “I like you, Baba! I always have! I’d never do anything to hurt you!”
“I know.” He shook off, showering her with moist diamonds. “Hey, so I slipped. No big deal.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“No.” He touched her cheek with his tongue. “It’s OK.”
“I’m glad.” She kissed him back. “I really do like you. Do you think I could see you again?”
He smiled. “Why not? Just don’t drown me, OK?”
She laughed. “It’s a deal!”
Just then, Isha walked by. “Were you swimming in the cistern?”
“I’m sorry, Isha. It was an accident.”
“Well try to be more careful. Hey, we have to drink that stuff!” She nuzzled him. “I’m headed out to Anteater Kopje to scout out the herd if anyone asks where I am.”
“Can I come too??”
“Sure, if you’ll be quiet.”
His face positively glowed. “Not a word,” he said, putting his paw over his mouth and winking. It may have looked funny to other creatures, but among lions it is a solemn promise of silence.
Lela’s ears drooped. “But I wanted to play tag!”
“Maybe later,” Mabatu said.
“Tag sounds fun,” Isha said, encouragingly.
“Yeah, but I have stuff to do.” When Isha left, he trotted along behind her toward the distant kopje.
Lela sighed. “Oh well.” She went and looked in the cistern at her reflection, then touched it with a paw. The waves made her face dance, and she had to smile at the effect. “Maybe tomorrow.”