The Wobbly Bumblebee Bop

Down in the cool, damp moss, something very small and very round began to stir. It was the sleepy bumblebee. Its velvet coat was as bright as fresh lemon peel, wrapped round with rich chocolate-brown stripes, and it was just waking up from its nap. First came a tiny, wobbly shiver. Then, one, two, three, four, five, six little fuzzy legs pushed out against the green ground in a great big stretch.

Pip leaned forward on his knees, peeking around the tip of his shoe. He pressed a hand over his mouth, but a little squeaky giggle slipped right through his fingers. "Look, Butterfly," he whispered. "His little feelers are doing a dance!"

Chloe smiled, her bright freckles crinkling in the chilly breeze. The wind blew cold across the tall grass stalks, but Chloe’s star daisy crown did what it always did when friends were close: it shone with a warm, steady circle of rainbow light. Pink and soft blue petals glowed with golden cheer, keeping the chill away from their toes. Blossom adjusted her wide clover leaf hat, giving her tiny head a happy waggle. With a delicate flick of her wrist, Blossom tapped her thin green wand against a tall blade of grass. Ping! A shower of tiny yellow sparks floated upward like friendly fireflies, pointing the way toward the sweet clover.

The bumblebee seemed to understand. It gave a soft, buzzy hum—bzz-zzt—and lifted off the moss on slow, fuzzy wings. But flying after a long nap is hard work when you are shaped like a plump little berry. Up the bee went, then down a tiny bit, tilting left and wobbling right in a wonderfully clumsy loop.

"Watch out, little buzzer!" Chloe laughed, reaching out her hands as if she could catch a wobble.

Bop!

The sleepy bee flew right into the bright yellow cup of a tall buttercup flower. The golden flower bounced back and forth like a bell, and down came a gentle shower of bright yellow pollen. It drifted down through the cool air, settling like yellow sugar straight across the front of Pip’s shoe. Pip looked down at his dusty toe, wiggled his foot, and burst into a merry, bubbly laugh. Blossom clapped her tiny hands together with a delighted squeak.

The bee didn't mind the bump one bit. It buzzed inside the yellow cup for half a second, gathered its balance, and backed out with its fuzzy bottom wiggling in the breeze. Chloe crouched down close to the ground, her sparkly pink shoes tucked neatly beneath her, watching the bumblebee take aim again.

This time, the little wings hummed with a smooth, cozy tune. The bumblebee circled Pip’s dusty shoe, drifted over the stems of swaying grass, and hovered softly above a big patch of plump, sweet white clover. With one last gentle wiggle of its striped middle, it landed right in the center of the softest blossom, tucking its head down deep into the sweet nectar for a well-earned sip.

Pip checked his shirt pocket with a quick, gentle pat, feeling the safe, smooth lump of his blue pebble tucked inside, while Chloe watched the bumblebee drink, wondering what other tiny meadow neighbors might still be fast asleep under the leaves.