The Garden Helpers

Lily loved to play in the big, bright garden. She loved the tall sunflowers and the sweet-smelling roses. But whenever she heard a BZZZZZZ, she would run inside as fast as she could!

On a big, yellow sunflower sat Barnaby the bee. He wasn't scary. He was just very busy. He felt sad when the little girl ran away. "I only want to help," he buzzed to himself.

Hiding behind a big green leaf, Lily peeked out. The little bee was just flying from flower to flower. "Don't be scared!" buzzed a tiny, friendly voice. "I won't hurt you."

Barnaby flew a little closer. "See this?" he buzzed, wiggling his fuzzy legs. "It's special dust from the flowers. It helps me do my most important job!"

"This dust is called pollen," Barnaby explained. "I carry it to all the other flowers in the garden. It's like I'm delivering tiny, important packages all day long!"

"But why is that so important?" Lily asked, stepping out from behind the leaf. Barnaby pointed his little leg to a patch of red, juicy-looking strawberries. "My job helps these grow!" he buzzed.

Lily's eyes went wide. She thought of her favorite snack: a big bowl of strawberries with sweet, yummy honey. "Wait a minute," she said. "You help grow the strawberries... and you make honey, too?"

"That's right!" Barnaby buzzed happily. "My family and I help grow apples, blueberries, and cucumbers, too! We are the earth's little garden helpers."

Lily smiled a big, warm smile. This little bee wasn't scary at all. He was a hero! "Thank you for all your hard work, Barnaby," she said softly.

Now, when Lily plays in the garden, she never runs from the bees. She waves and says, "Hello, garden helpers!" because she knows they are busy doing a very important, and very sweet, job.