Kako was dubious about Taka’s care of her son, but she adored Isha and looked forward to her visits. Isha had endless patience with the boisterous love Mabatu gave her, stoically enduring his pounces at her tail, his tugging at her ears and his snapping at her heels. She knew when the rough play was over he would look to her with unadulterated love. Then she would hold him close with joy, kissing his small face and fondling him with her paw.
One day when Isha came to take care of Mabatu while Kako went to see Rafiki. Kako told Isha, “You’re the sister I never had. What wonderful thing did I do to deserve you?”
Isha nuzzled her. “I was just wondering the same thing.”
“That’s the third time this moon you’ve taken care of Mabatu for me. There must be something I can do in return.”
“I love the little fellow. I enjoy every moment we spend together. That’s my reward.”
While Kako was gone, Isha settled down to watch him play until he was ready for sleep. But he was in high spirits and kept challenging her to a fight so they wrestled instead. Mabatu had a size disadvantage, but he’d learned a new move, and he grabbed for her hind leg, pulling her off balance. When she toppled easily, he pounced on her stomach and giggled. “Gotcha!”
“What a little stinker!” She crawled out from under him, dusted herself off, and said, “I’ll get you next time, you little rat fink.”
He reached up and kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He smiled. “Are you married?”
She laughed self-consciously. “No. But maybe someday the right lion will come along.”
He kissed her again. “When I grow up, I want to marry you.”
“Oh, Baba!” She pawed him and giggled. “What am I going to do with you!”
“Please don’t laugh at me. I meant it.”
She paused and looked at the very sincere, sensitive look in his eyes. Indeed, he meant it.
“I wasn’t laughing at you. It was just such a sweet thing to say. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
“You’re not mad?”
“No.” She kissed him and rubbed his cheek with her large paw. He looked at her with absolute love and touched her paw with his. A deep warmth spread through, and her eyes shone like stars. “That was the nicest proposal I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard quite a few.” She pulled him over with her paw. “Time for your bath, squirt.”
Mabatu meekly submitted to the ritual without the usual objections. As she cleaned his fur, he purred quietly and looked deeply into her eyes. Even his own mother could not get him to behave while she bathed him, much less force him to enjoy it.
Mabatu was sorry to see his mother come back from Rafiki’s appointment so soon. He greeted her affectionately, but was loathe to let Isha go. Isha kissed him more than usual and nuzzled him. “I love you, my special little boy.”
“I love you too.”
Later that day as the lionesses gathered for the hunt, Uzuri came to Isha with a broad smile on her face. “Congratulations!”
“On what?”
“On the big event. Mabatu just told me the good news.” She laughed merrily.
Embarrassed, Isha asked her, “Who else did he tell?”
“I don’t know. But I’d catch him quickly if I were you.”
“I’ll have a little talk with him.” Isha thought a moment and burst out laughing. “He asked me if I was married. The little rat fink, I should have known what he was up to!”