The little brown bear cub, Barnaby, loved honey. He loved the sweet, sticky taste, and he loved the way the golden droplets clung to his paws. Every morning, he'd wake up with a rumbling tummy and a craving for the honey that bees diligently gathered in the hollow of the old oak tree.
Barnaby wasn't the best at sharing, though. He'd often find himself the sole recipient of the honey pot, scooping spoonful after spoonful into his tiny bowl. He didn't notice the other forest creatures watching him with longing eyes.
One sunny morning, a tiny hummingbird zipped around Barnaby, her wings a blur of colour. Her throat quivered as she tried to catch the bees as they flew away with the honey. She had no nectar to feed her young, and her tiny wings were tired. She looked at Barnaby, who was happily scooping the honey.
Barnaby, oblivious to the hummingbird's plight, continued his honey feast. Suddenly, a playful squirrel, Nutsy, scampered by, his bushy tail twitching. He dropped a handful of glittering acorns beside Barnaby's honey pot. 'Look at this!', he chirped, 'They're delicious for sharing!'.
Barnaby looked at the acorns. They were lovely, but they weren't honey. He turned his attention back to his honey, completely oblivious to the hummingbird's need.
The hummingbird, her heart heavy with hunger, flew closer to Barnaby. She hovered in front of him, her little body trembling, and softly chirped. Her eyes were wide with worry.
Barnaby finally noticed her, his eyes widening with a flicker of understanding. He saw the sadness in her tiny eyes. He saw the hunger in her fluttering wings.
With a gentle nudge, he pushed his honey pot towards her. 'Here you go,' he whispered, feeling a warmth spreading through his chest.
The hummingbird, her eyes shining with gratitude, dipped her beak into the honey pot, collecting just a little bit. It was enough to restore her energy and to feed her young. A wave of happiness washed over her, and she chirped happily.
Barnaby smiled. Sharing wasn't about giving away everything. It was about sharing a little bit of happiness. As he watched the hummingbird flit away, laden with joy, he understood the true sweetness of sharing.
From that day on, Barnaby made a point of sharing his honey with the other forest creatures, always keeping a little bit for himself. He learned that sharing brought more joy than keeping everything for himself.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the forest, Barnaby snuggled into his bed, a contented smile on his face. He knew that sharing, and being kind, always brought the best kind of sweetness. And with that thought, he drifted off to sleep, dreaming of honey and happy friends.
Sweet dreams, little ones. Sweet dreams.