Abby has been studying her bee book after school. Amazing Bees: Buzzing with Bee Facts. She’s decided to show it to Miss Dez and get her opinion on it. She didn’t know how hard becoming a scientist was going to be, but still wanted to do it. Still lots of years to grow up, so she thought she might have time to be a scientist before she was as old as Samuel. Feeding the bees was fun and a little scary. Samuel didn’t have her size of beekeepers suit, but he did have an extra hat that was way too big for her. He fixed it so it was almost small enough with some duct tape he had in his shed. The netting hung all the way to the middle of her back, so she was ok that day. Today, she made sure to put on her brother Ben’s overalls and wore her denim jacket that snapped up to her neck. She’d have to wear that big beekeepers hat but her mom had ordered one, and a beekeepers suit, from the catalogue. As soon as it came she’d dress properly so she could really work with the bees. Ben laughed at her and said she’d never be a scientist. Abby was really annoyed. He used to be so nice to her when she was really little. Since she started going to school he turned into some kind of a monster. She just turned her back on him when he got so mean.
When she was helping Samuel feed the bees, she watched more than anything, but he always found to help. He had her go to each of the hives with Miss Dez to see if any of then needed repair. He said Miss Dez would know. That was a good thing, because Abby had never seen a beehive except on TV. And they always looked good.
~~~~~
At the beehives behind the big apple orchard, the three of them were getting ready for their assignments. Samuel had talked with Dez after Abby had returned home after feeding the bees. They decided to have Samuel take the lead in teaching this child, mainly because he wasn’t new at this. Dez was still learning. They both felt it was important that Dez always be there. “Too much talk about a young girl and a old man like me out here all the time.” Dez just laughed but did agree about the possible gossip from service delivery people in and out of the estate, often out at the orchard or garden.
Today, he said he had already done an inspection. “Only do that every couple of weeks, sometimes a bit longer. Don’t want to get them all riled up.” Abby looked disappointed. She was all ready to do more real bee work. “Don’t worry, little girl, I’m going to tell you why I didn’t wait for you.” He grinned at his two students. So serious. Miss Dez with her iPad ad Apply with her pencil and notebook. “You might as well put those away, look it up when you get home about inspecting beehives. Right now I want to show you the smoker and what to look for. You’re pretty young to do a whole inspection by yourself, but next time, I’ll let you watch.”
Abby listened carefully for the next hour. Samuel answered all her questions. But when she got home, she took out her book and looked up how to take care of bees. He did know what he was talking about! She sighed with relief and when her mother called her for supper, she jumped up and ran downstairs. “I’ll do my homework after supper.”
~~~~~
“You’re awfully quiet, dear. Is there anything wrong? Did you not get to see the bees today?” Joanie Richardson had been watching her daughter, barely picking at her food. Abby put down her fork. “Mom, why do I have to take all the classes about language and grammar and math? Why can’t I just take science? I could get going to university faster to help the bees.”
Joanie rested her hand on Abby’s. “Honey, that’s a question lots of people ask. Even my own teacher when I was in school told me I needed a well rounded education. “ She paused when she saw her daughter’s face looked even sadder. “That wasn’t a very good answer then, and it isn’t now either. Let me see. A scientist has to learn all these other things so when they were working with what they loved, they would be able to write books like the one you have. Each one of your classes gives you a good foundation for the work you want to do.” Abby sighed and looked up at her mother. “And, my beautiful, serious scientist girl, you can’t get into university or any college with out good grades. So, eat your supper and get to your homework.” Abby sat up, picked up her fork and after a bite or two said ‘Ok mom, I hope you’re right. But I’m going to ask my teacher tomorrow.” Abby was never satisfied with just one answer. Her curious mind always need corroboration. She just hoped that she wouldn’t be too old when she learned everything she needed to learn.
“The lyf so short, the craft so long to learn.”
~ Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parliament of Birds
**Authors note: I have not yet read Amazing Bees: Buzzing with Bee Facts, however the reviews I read are all positive about the facts and photos about bees and why they are needed.
Title: Amazing Bees: Buzzing with Bee Facts
Published 2016
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd.
Imprint: DK Children
Format: Hardback
Type: Non-Fiction
ISBN: 9780241225073
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