Barnaby was a little bee, and he loved honey! But Barnaby wasn't always very sweet. Sometimes, he’d buzz past his friends without saying hello, and he didn’t like sharing his favorite flower patches. He thought if he kept all the best nectar for himself, he’d have the most honey.
One sunny morning, Barnaby was collecting nectar from a big, red poppy. He saw Beatrice, a smaller bee, trying to reach the nectar, but the poppy was too tall for her. Barnaby almost buzzed right past, thinking, 'More for me!' But then, he remembered his mama bee always said, 'A little sweetness goes a long way.'
So, Barnaby flew over to Beatrice. “Need a little help?” he asked, surprising even himself. Beatrice’s face lit up. “Oh, yes please!” Barnaby gently nudged the poppy stem, bending it down so Beatrice could reach the sweet nectar.
Beatrice thanked Barnaby with a happy wiggle. “That was very kind of you!” she said. Then, she told Barnaby about a hidden patch of lavender she’d found, filled with the most delicious nectar. “I’d love to share it with you!”
Barnaby followed Beatrice to the lavender patch, and it *was* amazing! He and Beatrice collected nectar together, laughing and chatting. Barnaby realized that sharing and being kind felt much better than having all the nectar to himself.
When it was time to go home, Barnaby’s honey pot felt lighter, but his heart felt full. He understood now what his mama meant. Being sweet to others didn’t mean he had less; it meant he gained something even better – a friend and a happy feeling inside.
That night, as Barnaby drifted off to sleep, he dreamed of lavender fields and happy buzzing. He knew that from now on, he would always choose to be sweet, because being sweet made everything sweeter. Close your eyes now, little one, and dream sweet dreams too.