A free-spirited man stepped just outside of the airport where the African morning sun was greeting him. He let out a sigh of relief. He had thick short sandy blond hair, canvas pants, and a green shirt. "Home," he stated and looked around when he heard a familiar voice calling his name. "Dr. Atkins," Makena Called. "Dr. Atkins," he heard once more. The blond-haired 31-year-old Ph.D. turned his head and recognized Makena. "I thought I told you never to call me that. It's just a piece of paper, besides we talked about this. You can call me Will." "Then remind me to call you Asani as you are the most rebellious professor and researcher in your profession. Chuckling, he dragged his massive roll-aboard luggage and backpack over to the side of Makena's car, where the two embraced. "To be honest with you, I will rather be called Asani over Dr. Atkins every day. If I had a choice, I would rather live out in the Savannah somewhere and do my research remotely. Better yet, I would appreciate it if someone turned me into an animal so I would not have to go back." "Careful what you wish for, son," Makena warned. "Say, is that the smell of beer on your clothes?" She questioned. "What of it?" Will asked. "I told you I am unorthodox." "Yeah, but I hate the smell of beer," Makena mentioned. "Not good for smart people like you." "Oh, let's get this hotel non-sense over with," Will grumbled.
As Will got into the car, he quietly thought about his life back home in Atlanta. Despite his research in his field in which he often worked with Yerkes Primate Center and research with lions in Zoo Atlanta, he despised working for Emory University as a professor. From attempting to teach Zoology to a group of spoiled rich kids a few times a week to present at research conferences where no one cared two cents about lions, he regretted taking the job offer as a college professor. 'Maybe I will either look into moving here to work at the university behind the scenes as a research professor. If not there, transfer to Yerkes and work with primates or even some zoo. Anywhere but Emory, he supposed. As he thought this, he looked out the window as Makena sped away from the airport towards the hotel. Outside was the countless wildlife, and as he looked, he somehow felt that his life was about to change forever, but he could not quite put his finger on it.
"Asani, have you had the chance to connect with your new intern for the year?" Makena interrupted, cutting into his thoughts. "No, I assigned that to one of my grad research assistants to do that. Besides, I am tired of meeting these college graduates who think they know it all. I am pretty sure this one will be the same way." "Sophie arrived earlier than you, and she seemed like a bright young adult, and she is attractive," Makena played. Will shook his head. "I have no intention of settling down, no way, Jose. I am a free man, and I don't intend to settle down with someone who will distract me from my work. Especially some young thing which probably intends to look like Barbie. You know the type, slender figures, long hair, heavy make-up and jewelry, no thank you. "She's only 24-year-old Will, and knowing you, I am pretty sure you will straighten her out. She probably won't come back looking like Barbie."
As Sophie slept, she had unusual dreams. At first, she was in a space where a rusty red male lion with a dark mane greeting her. As he approached her, she backed away from him and trembled. "Do not be afraid, child. I am Adhi, and I am here to warn you about my son and grandson. The great tragedy is about to fall upon them," the strange lion warned. "Major change will fall over the land that you are about to roam, as the change will soon pursue your life too, child." Following was Sophie's second dream at standing at an altar in front of a minister and a groom. As the two were about to kiss, the earth began to shake, and a male suddenly grabbed Sophie with a deep voice which said, "You're mine, and I think I could fix you." Finally, she dreamed she was a lioness who nuzzled on a male lion in front of a baboon who told them they were in "Upendi," as exotic flowers dropped from above while voices told them, "We are one. Welcome to the circle of life." At that moment, the young college graduate woke up to the sun setting. No longer was she tired, but she was hungry and needed to reach out to her aunt and uncle. As she sat up in bed, she put her hand on her forehead and thought about the strange dreams. They all seemed to go together in perfect harmony. Though she had never given the dreams much thought, she knew there was something about them that caught her attention.
She pulled back posh covers of her hotel room, let her feet meet the floor, and went over to the window, which had a lovely view of the state park. As she looked out, she once again sensed that she would never return to America after this internship and might live in Africa for the rest of her life. As she looked at the twilight in the sky, something felt right for the young city girl to live out in the middle of now where who would go from the sounds of honking cars, the sound of the mass transit to the sounds of lion choirs. As she listened, her stomach growled, which reminded her to contact her family and get dinner.
Dr. Atkins sat out by the hotel pool with a beer and looked out at all the tourists swimming in the early evening hours. As he watched the glow of the pool light, a female voice interrupted him. "Dr. Atkins, it's so good to see you," he turned around to find that a young Caucasian woman greeted him with a frizzy blond bob who wore khaki attire. She also had a South Africa accent. "Izzy," he exclaimed as she plopped down next to her. "Isabelle Thornton," he added. "It's good to see you too. My first intern who now works for the University in Capetown. How is your research down there?" He inquired. "The usual, nothing has changed much, but our program did get more funding." "Terrific," Will replied. "Primate research is the lion's roar," she added. "Speaking of which, I brought a surprise for a trip out to the bush. Have they agreed to let me bring one of our monkeys to accompany the" "Oh? Which one is that, Dr. Thornton?" "You don't know her; she's a colobus monkey who a lion injured? Found her in the Savannah. We took her back with us to the university primate rehab program." "Oh really, are you going to re-introduce her to the wild?" "Not exactly? She seemed to have a hard time re-adapting to her natural habitat. Her name is Nia, and I will introduce her tomorrow during the week-long training," she added. "By the Izzy, have you had the chance to meet this new intern?" "No, Makena told me the girl went straight to bed so she could sleep off the jet lag. I know she sounds pretty naïve to me." "As most city women are," Will reminded her.
At that moment, their thoughts were suddenly interrupted when they heard a young woman's voice. "No sir, I am not a fan of spicy food, and I am a vegetarian," which led them to follow the voice of the woman who was talking to her server. "I will see what I can do, Miss Hawk, Hakuna Matata," he stated before bowing. "Come again?" Sophie inquired. "Ah, that's Swahili for 'No worries," he stated. "Thank you," Sophie returned. "I hope you enjoy your tea Miss Hawk," her server added. "Please call me Sophie," she corrected. "Alright, Sophie, but you look more like a flower. Your name should be Zahara, which means flower." The young woman smiled and sipped her tea, unaware that Will and Izzy stared at her intensely. Though Will had stated earlier that he would never fall in love, there was something about this woman that interested him. Maybe it was her face's shape, which resembled a half heart, her skin color, and her voice, which sounded so sweet yet feisty. Yes, his intern resembled a rare flower of the Savannah. "Will's in love," Izzy teased. "I am not. I was putting a name to a face. Don't jump to conclusions, Izz," Will denied. "Yeah, sure," Izzy came back. "You will have time to connect with her over the next few days during training." Being the free spirit he was, Will ignored Izzy's wise words and walked over to his new intern to be.
Sophie enjoyed her iced tea while sitting back watching other hotel guests enjoy the refreshing illuminated waters while wishing she had brought her suit from the room. As observed, a male voice interrupted her thoughts. "There are much more exciting places in Africa than just hanging out in front of a pool toots." At that moment, Sophie traced the male voice back to a man standing behind her. "Uh, hi?" Sophie attended. "May I help you?" "It is to the best of my knowledge that you are supposed to be Sophie Hawk?" He inquired sarcastically. "Yes, I am, are you, Dr. William Atkins," she inquired. "Now, what makes you say that Southern Bell?" "You just asked me my name, sir, and I am going to be working for a Dr. William Atkins. So you much be my new boss." "Boss, don't think of me as your boss." "Colleague?" "Hate the word, Southern Bell." "Ok? What should I refer you as?"
"Hmm, I never thought of that, miss. "Well, are you William Atkins or not?" Sophie pressed. At that moment, a smirk grew on Will's face before laughing. "Why, of course, of I am Dr. William Atkins, but do me a favor, please do not think of me like a Dr. It's just a piece of paper based on some extra projects and expertise in primate work." "Have you decided what you want to specialize in?" "Clinical psychology, I suppose," Sophie said cluelessly. "That's what they all say," Will added. "Then why are you in Africa learning about animals if you are interested in being another shrink. "To get my feet wet, besides, I have always had a love for lions. "Then I think being here will be very good for you," he stated as he tugged on her braid. "However, if you are going to be here a year, this needs to go." Sophie groaned, "I will do what I want for my hair, thanks." "Ok, sorry," Will said, backing off. "But you're going to living in the wild, and the shower times are limited to once a day," he hinted before winking and moving away. "Anyway, enjoy your dinner, Southern Belle" he said, knowing that he had ruffled her feathers. "Also, have a good night, but a vegetarian? In the wild?
