As Henry was susceptible to bee stings it would have been wiser for him to stay away from the beehive. Yet his friends did not suspect that the boy’s symptoms would be as severe as Henry had said. They suspected Henry of lying when he said that he might not survive a bee sting. The boys lived near a swamp and would often play there. They enjoyed tying ropes to the high swaying branches and swinging through the trees like monkeys. The boys would also swim in the deeper water although their mothers forbade them, because if swallowed, the water could cause sickness. The boys swore to their mothers that they would not get up to any mischief but they always did. One day the boys were swinging and swimming when one of the boys noticed two beehives on the same tree. This was a rare sight indeed. Rarer still was the fact that the hives were built on either side of the tree trunk in perfect symmetry. The boy decided that two hives were far too much for any one tree. They decided that they would remove one and eat the honey. They started throwing sticks and stones at the hive. The excitement grew as the hive swayed from side to side. A cheer rose as the hive came tumbling from the branch and landed with a thud on the ground. The boys elected Henry to go and pole the hive with a stick. He weakly protested but nevertheless poked it. A small prod produced a symphony of buzzing as a swarm of bees emerged. The boys turned and ran as if synchronized. It is a syndrome of young boys that when in need, their friends come second and their mothers come first. As Henry ran he sustained a number of bee stings. He started to swell into a human balloon. He started to cry. His mother would not be pleased with him at all. Luckily his father, who had a foul temper, was away attending a symposium on the synthesis of light. His father was a man of science and seldom gave the sympathy that an injured young boy requires. Weakness was a taboo, according to Henry’s father and Henry felt particularly weak as he ran towards his front gate. Henry entered the house and flicked on the light switch. He ran to the kitchen cupboard and swiftly swallowed three tablets that the doctor had given him for times like these. He learned a lesson that day. Never tease bees.