The Fable of the Bees

 

 

An old oak hummed happily as dancing worker bees weaved and waxed a honeycomb. These busy bees were blissfully unaware that their heavenly sweetness attracted the attention of some very wily wasps.

 

 

 

 

“As soon as those bees leave to sip a flower, we will employ our parasite power!” the lead hornet cried, while his cronies brutishly buzzed in agreement.

 

As soon as those bees went a’foraging, the wasps muscled in. The bees returned stinging mad when they discovered the wasps greedily guzzling their gold.

 

The hornet jeered, “What my dear bees is all the fuss? This sweet nectar belongs to us!”

 

The honest bees were peeved and piqued, but they knew just what to do:

 

“We only want what’s right and proper; let’s go ask the old grasshopper.”

 

 

 

So the wasps and the bees winged it to where the judicious grasshopper meditated.

 

The grasshopper listened carefully to each claim.

 

 

“Both bee and wasp, oh so alike, I can’t tell who is who. But this I’ll fix and set aright; each one shall build the comb a-new. When both are done, we’ll see the light; I’ll know who’s just and true.”

 

The beautiful bees happily agreed and went to work, humming and dancing once more.  Meanwhile, the worthless wasps (acutely aware of their defeat) droned off in search of unsuspecting pick-nickers.

 

 

The End

 

 

 

*Inspired by one of Aesop's Fables.