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“If you ladies are ready, we are about ten minutes from the falls. We’ll be having a picnic lunch there.”
“That sounds perfect,” Sylvie answered for us all. “Lead the way, Ndungu.”
Giving a little wave and bidding farewell to our giraffe friends, we drove off toward the famous falls I was quite excited to see. Along the way we saw a herd of elephants, and we stopped to take pictures and ooh and ahh over the behemoth creatures, then finally, we arrived at Victoria Falls.
When we hopped out of the vehicle, the water from the nearby falls crashed so loudly that Ndungu had to speak louder as we approached. “You know them as Victoria Falls, but the locals here call them Mosi-Oa-Tunya, which means ‘The Smoke that Thunders.’ No matter how many times I see them, they always take my breath away, as I’m sure they will yours.”
With that, he waved his hand, and we turned the corner to see the massive falls we’d been hearing so much about. I wasn’t one to be overwhelmed with emotions often, but the sight of the five-thousand-foot-wide falls cascading down, and the mist, which looked like smoke forming rainbows in the bright sunlight, took my breath away.
“My God,” Sylvie whispered, stumbling to a stop as she clutched her chest.
We all followed suit, open jaws mirroring one another as we stood in awe of the natural wonder.
“The Smoke that Thunders,” Marge said quietly. “It’s incredible.”
We stood silently for a few long moments, Ndungu following suit and giving us time to take in the spectacular sight. Finally, he broke our stunned silence by clearing his throat.
“You ladies can walk around and explore. I’ll get lunch set up at the overlook. Come find me over there when you’re ready to eat.” He pointed to a clearing overlooking the falls just a short walk away. “But be careful. Don’t fall in.”
“Yeah, that would be our luck,” Marge said. “And I think we’ve had enough near drownings in our lives, so stay away from the edge, ladies.”
We all took a healthy step back though we were nowhere near close enough to fall.
“See you soon,” Ndungu said with a wink, then he hurried off to make our lunch, leaving the Widows and I to soak in the awe-inspiring sight. Long before we had our fill, Doris’s grumbling stomach gave us our cue to head over for lunch.
“Whoa!” Marge turned and looked at Doris’s stomach. “Sounds like a lion crawled up in there!”
“Sorry, I don’t mean to ruin the moment, but I skipped breakfast.” She clutched her gurgling gut. “I’m starving.”
“I’m starving too,” Sylvie said. “Don’t worry. We will have a great view of the fallsandfood over there. Nothing to be sorry for. Let’s go”
We walked single file along the trail that led to the lunch clearing Ndungu had laid out for us. After finding a spot on our picnic blanket, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and a glass of wine.
“I gotta say, Alice,” Sylvie said after finishing her last sip of wine. “This wish is incredible. I am having the most amazing time.”
“Agreed.” Doris sat back on her hands with a sigh. “From the resort to the food to the views ... this is one heck of a wish you made!”
“I third that sentiment. Well done, Alice.” Marge lifted her glass in a cheers, and I clinked it then took my last sip of wine.
“And are you having fun?” Sylvie asked, tipping her head. “You’ve been quiet today.”
“I’m just really hoping to see the big cats, honestly. Most of the reason I wanted to go on a safari was to see the big cats out in the world, roaming the wild.”
“Ah, the cougar wants to see her family, huh?” Marge grinned, and I cringed at the hole in her mouth I knew I’d never grow accustomed to.
“You’re not a wild cat anymore though,” Doris said with a matching, though fully toothed, smile. “Now you’re a domestic house cat!”
The moment she said those words, the cringe from seeing Marge’s missing tooth deepened. A house cat? Me. The audacity.
“I’mnota house cat,” I shot back, lifting my chin proudly. “I’m a big cat—a lean, mean, powerful hunting machine. Just because I’m married now doesn’t mean I’m not a big cat anymore. Once a big cat, always a big cat.”
“Well, a domesticated big cat,” Sylvie joked. “Like one of those cougars someone keeps in the city and walks around on a diamond-studded leash.”
Marge rolled back with laughter. “Yes! Exactly that! Alejandro taking his big cougar out for a walk in Central Park. I can actually see it.”
The good-natured teasing made my hackles stand up. “I’mnota domesticated cat! I’m a proud cougar. Alethalcougar.” I gave them all a look that snapped their laughing jaws shut. “No one is, or will ever, have this big cat on a leash. I’m with Alejandro because I choose to be, not because I’m hispet.”
Sylvie’s voice softened. “We were only kidding, Alice. We know you aren’t some house pet of Alejandro’s.”
