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Reader’s Theater
The Reluctant Bee
By
Sharon Baldwin
Narrator: It is a beautiful warmsummer day.The flowers are blooming and hundreds of worker bees are gathering nectar and pollen to take back to their hive. One lonely bee sits quietly on a leaf. She wants to hide from her sister bees because she feels like a failure.
Bee #1
What are you doing sitting here when we have work to do?
Reluctant Bee
I want to help but I just can’t!
Bee # 1
Don’t be ridiculous, we have a hive to feed. You must do your job. That’s what we do. We work, work, work.
Reluctant Bee
I’m not like you. I don’t think I’ll ever be a good worker.
Bee#1 Oh, goodness me------you are a silly bee. I have no time for this.
Narrator: With a buzz, buzz she flew away to a flower, leaving the reluctant bee feeling even worse. Soon more of her sister bees came flitting by.
Bee#2 Are you dying? Why are you not helping us gather pollen and nectar?
Bee#3 Yes, look at my honey stomach. It’s so full, I might pop. See my legs covered with pollen. I’ve never had so much fun. Come on and dive into a flower. You’ll like it!
Reluctant Bee
I want to help but------well, I’m afraid.
Bee#2
Afraid of what? If you want to eat, you better get busy because those who don’t work don’t eat.
Bee# 3
You won’t be able to get back into the hive with those clean legs and an empty stomach!
Reluctant Bee
Maybe I could do something else for the hive-----something that doesn’t require me to steal from the flowers.
Bee#2
STEAL! You are one unusual, mixed up bee. I’m getting back to work.
Bee#3
I’m heading home with my food.The queen and babies need to eat.
Narrator: Suddenly, the bee hears a quiet humming. At first she thinks it is another one of her sisters, but as the humming gets closer she notices a tiny bird hovering over her head.
Hummingbird:
Hi, I’m Harry Hummingbird. Are you planning on working or what? I’m in ahurry and I need this flower for myself.
Reluctant Bee
I don’t work.
Hummingbird: Great, that means there’s more for me. Hey, I bet you’re not very popular. I thought all of you bees had to work morning, noon and night.
Reluctant Bee
I know. That’s why I feel like a failure.
Hummingbird:
Well, there’s nothing wrong with being different, if that makes you happy. But--- you don’t seem very happy. I know one thing---- you’re missing out on some good food.
Narrator:
Reluctant Bee did get hungry as she sat and considered her choices. She finally got the courage to fly up towards the lovely yellow flower near her leaf. To her surprise, the flower was happy to see her.
Flower
Hello, I wondered when you would come visit me. I’ve been watching you all day just sitting on my leaf. You seem so unhappy.
Reluctant Bee
I know. I have a job to do but I feel it is wrong to take your food for my hive.
Flower
Oh my, you don’t understand. I want you to take the nectar. It is there for you. Don’t you see, when you take the nectar, you also bring pollen from the other flowers you visit. I need that pollen to make a seed. If you bees stop pollinating the flowers, we will all die without making seeds and there will be no more of our kind.
Reluctant Bee
You mean it is a good thing that we take the nectar for ourselves?
Flower
Of course it is. We were meant to help each other. We flowers are colorful and fragrant so you bees can find us easily. You can be a worker bee and do what you were made to do. I can make seeds before I die and my life cycle will be complete.
Reluctant Bee
How can I ever thank you for making me understand?
Flower
Just keep buzzing and pollinating------life goes on.
Narrator:
The bee became a faithful worker and always felt proud of what she did for her hive and for the beautiful flowers.
Sharon Baldwin