From: Queen Bee

'Has the red carpet been rolled out?' the bees called. 'And is the choir in position? 'There she is: The queen of the Caper bees. Bow down low and sing, everybody!'
Bee was waiting by the entrance to the hive. She made a deep curtesy when the fat bee-queen entered, and she said: 'You are most welcome, your majesty.'
'What's that you are saying, dear?' the queen called out. 'This bloomin' choir is making such a racket I can't hear a thing your're saying!'
Bee raised a royal hand and the choir was silent, looking deeply offended.
'You are most welcome, Queen Nettie. We are most honoured to receive you in our house.'
Nettie looked around. 'Why thank you, Queen Bee. What a darling little hive you
have here.'
Little hive? thought Bee, but she said very politely:'You must be tired after your long flight. Won't you please sit down.'
'Are you sure this little old chair isn't going to collapse right under me?' Nettie asked.
'That is a very strong little chair,' said Bee. 'Even an elephant could sit on it.'
'By which you mean what exactly?' aked Nettie with a mean look in her eyes.
'Oh, nothing at all! Just that you are looking so very ... healthy, shall we say? Would you care for a glass of honey?'
Nettie nodded, and one of Bee's ladies poured her a little glass. Nettie smelled at the honey. 'I do hope it's not clover? I think clover-honey is just so vulgar!'
'Indeed not, this is knotweed-honey'.
'Never heard of it. But anyway.'
Nettie took one sip and immediately spat it all out again.
All over Bee's brand new dress.
'This muck tastes of cough syrup!' she screamed. 'Lady-in-waiting, you will immediately bring me some of that Linden blossom-honey that I brought with me.'
Bee took a very deep breath. 'We are so sorry,' she said. 'Please allow us to present our children to you: princess Bibi and prince Baltasar.'
Bibi and Baltasar both bowed very deeply.
'Well, so those are your children, are they? They are so thin that at first I thought you were presenting a couple of ghosts,' said Nettie. 'Are they not feeding you enough, dears. Don't you never suffer no hunger?'
'That should be: Are you ever hungry,' said Bee. 'Never no hunger is wrong, actually.'
'You are looking down on me, aren't you?' Nettie started screaming. 'Just because I wasn't born a queen like you. Just because I had to start life like an ordinary working drone. You are stuck up, you are!'
'We do not care about humble beginnings' said Bee. 'But you find our beehive too small, and our furniture too old. You spit honey all over our new dress and you insult our children! This is not how a true queen behaves! And now you will kindly leave our hive this instant!'
'I wouldn't stay here for another minute if you begged me!' Queen Nettie marched off with her nose in the air, closely followed by her ladies.
'Now we may have been a touch impolite here' said Bee. 'But we certainly are very glad that she is gone.'
'When I grow up, do I get to chase away evil queens too?' Bibi asked. 'Because in that case, I think it might be rather nice to be a queen after all!'

QUEEN'S DAY

Every year on the 31st of August all the bees had a day off work. They were celebrating Bee's birthday. The hive had been decorated all over with lovely flags of yellow and black. The bee-children were allowed to sell their old toys and other things, while the older bees sat about eating, drinking and chatting. A bee-band was playing all Bee's favourite songs.
Bee was sitting with Bibi, Baltasar, Gran and aunt Bumba. Full of contentment she looked at all the presents she had received. Baltasar had made a lovely drawing for his mother.He had even made a lovely frame for it from little twigs, feathers and daisies.
Bibi saw Bee looking at the frame. She asked:'Don't you think my gift is ever so much nicer? A real little mirror that you can look into all day long!'
'It is magnificent,'said Bee. 'How did you ever guess that we always wanted to have a mirror just like that one?'
Bibi glowed with pride. 'Are you coming Baltasar?' she asked. 'Let's go and have our faces painted.' And with that the two children flew off.
Aunt Bumba was fidgeting.
'Oh, do sit still for a moment,' said Gran.
'I am just wondering if my daughters will be able to manage without me,' said Bumba. 'There is always so very much to do.'
'Of course they can manage' said Gran. 'Just have another slice of cake.
Look Bee, there's a group of bees doing their traditional flag-waving.'
'Oh dear, how utterly boring we always find this flag-waving,' said Bee. But still she smiled and applauded politely.
'You know what I always find a terible bore? Traditional crafts,' said Gran.
'You know those bees that insist on showing you how honey was made a hundred years ago. Especially if they wear those silly bonnets as well!'
'Well, you had better prepare yourself mother, because that is exactly what is next on the programme!'
'In that case I had better have another little drinkie,' said Gran. 'Bottoms up!'
Suddenly all went quiet.
The music stopped playing, the flag-wavers froze on the spot and everybody stopped talking. A large bee had entered the hive, followed by a group of ladies-in-waiting wearing large black capes.
'Your majesty, may I present Queen Miralda,' lady Bo said nervously.
'You are most welcome, Miralda' Bee bowed politely.
'Many happy returns, Bee. I just had to pay you a little visit, even though I hadn't been invited.'
'You did not receive an invitation?' Bee pretended to be surprised. 'Those postal bees, they are just so unreliable!'
'I would know what to do with them,' said Miralda. 'Chop off their heads!'
'Yes, I suppose you would,' said Gran.
'Of course I haven't come empty-handed. There you are.' Miralda handed a package to Bee. Bee unwrapped the box to find a beautiful paintbrush that was made from real gold. 'Thank you so much,' said Bee. 'What a lovely brush!' She felt she would be able to paint the most beautiful pictures with it.
'I know how much you love to paint,'said Miralda.' So I have yet another present for you. I happen to know Bella Picabia . And she is willing to give you lessons. Which I shall pay for, of course.'
'No!', Bee was flabbergasted. 'That would really be too much too accept!'
'But Mummy, you are always saying: if only I could paint as well as Bella,' said Bibi. She and Baltasar were standing there with their faces all painted.
'Well, it would be a wonderful opportunity,' said Bee. 'When would she be able to come here?'
Miralda smiled her waspish smile. 'It would actually be more convenient if you were to go to her studio in the Big City. That is where she keeps all her paints and canvasses, and all her brushes of course. Bella has kindly invited you to come and stay with her.'
'Now that is rather an honour,' said Gran.
'You can start on the first of September,' said Miralda. 'One month of lessons and you will be a truly great painter! Not that you aren't very good already ofcourse.'
'A whole month in the Big City?' said Bee. 'We can't afford to be away from here for such a long time.'
'Surely your mother or your cousin could fill in for you for the duration?'
'I'm terribly sorry, Bee, but I just couldn't,' said Bumba.
'And I have to return to my own hive as well,' said Gran.
'Well, what about this young lady? Surely she could replace you?'
Bibi stretched herself to her full hight. 'Oh could I Mummy, please? I am sure I could do it, I really could!'
'She is still too young,' said Bee. She let out a deep sigh. 'It would have been the most splendid gift Miralda, but unfortunately it just isn't possible.'
'Well', said Miralda. 'Then I guess you are right.'
At that moment one of the bees bent over and whispered something in her ear.
'My lady-in-waiting seems to forget sometimes that I too have my obligations,' said Miralda. 'But it would be quite wrong of me to stand in the way of your artistic development. And since there doesn't seem to be another solution I suppose I could take your place here for a while.'
Bee thought it over. She looked at the splendid gold paintbrush. With that brush and with the lessons she would receive from Bella Picabia she couldn't fail to become world famous.
'But what about me?' Baltasar tugged at Bee's hand, making the golden brush drop to
the floor.
'Now look what you've done!' Bee snarled. 'Pick it up this instant!'
Baltasar picked the brush off the floor and handed it to Bee. His lower lip was trembling.
'Don't you worry, my sweet little thing,' said Miralda. She pinched Baltasar's cheeck. 'You shall have all the honey you can eat!' Baltasar was all smiles again.
'And you shall help me govern the country, my girl,' said Miralda. Bibi was beaming.
Gran and Bumba were watching Bee. And Bee was having a daydream.
She could picture herself already, returning from the Big City with a stack of beautiful paintings. She saw herself landing on the gangplank outside the beehive, tired from the long flight. But as she attempted to enter the hive the guards stopped her.
'Who are you?'
'Don't you recognize me?' said Bee. 'We are Bee, your queen.'
The guards pressed their noses in her coat. 'You smell of paint. Queen Miralda! There is an individual here who says she is our queen!'
Miralda came strolling from inside the hive. 'Well, anybody could say that, couldn't they,'she said with a grin on her face. 'But you are just an artist. Surely you can see who is the queen around here?'
'You are wearing our crown!' cried Bee.
'Now get lost!' said Miralda. 'Because if you don't: Off with your head!'
And Bee flew off, all on her own. And all she had left in the world were some paintings...
'So, that's settled then, my dear Bee?' Miralda said in a voice that was oozing with sweetness. Bee came back to the real world again. How would she ever be able to trust Miralda? That miserable insect was already trying to seduce her children away from her.
'No Miralda,' said Bee. 'We could not bear to be away from our children for such a long time. And besides, our people would miss us too much.'
'And that's the truth!' said Bumba.
'Very properly observed, my daughter,' said Gran. And then she winked at Bee.
'Won't you sit down, Miralda,' said Bee. 'Would you like a small glass of honey?'
'No!' said Miranda. She looked at Bee with a look of pure hatred in her eyes. 'I have to be getting home again. And besides: I heard your honey tastes like pee!'
'I suppose Midas told you,' said Bee. 'Have a safe journey home, Miralda!'
Spitting and cursing Miralda flew off, followed by her ladies in their long flapping capes.
'Well, I for one am glad she has buzzed off!' said Gran.
That evening everyone came out to watch the firefly-ballet.
'Aaahh!...' all the bees hummed.
'Mummy,' Bibi whispered, 'will you promise never to leave us in order to become a famous painter?'
She felt a warm royal wing wrapping snugly all around her.
'The very thought of it!' said Bee.