PHOTO PROMPT © Trish Nankeville
Harald lived with his family over the fence. Wise Queen Martha chose Gene’s yard. Gene was a gardener who enjoyed bringing new cultivars home. He squeezed them into the already overflowing beds from spring until fall; a dazzling array of colors and fragrances.
When Gene planted cushion hakea, Harald went to work. His pouches sagging, he barely made it over the fence and home. Staggering in, it took his last bit of energy to dance the news to his dronemates. Harald felt like a king – then collapsed, dead of exhaustion. The pollen was unloaded and taken to the nursery.
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the energetic host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
I love that top image. Can’t help but imagine what that would taste like if it were a fruit. 😋
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I bet very sweet and tasty :)
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Agreed, fully! 😋
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Great story
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Thank you, Neil :)
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Dear Lisa,
So Harald is a bee? Poor guy. He really expended himself for his family. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, yes he is, and yes he did. Such is the life of a drone. Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Life and death from the bee’s perspective. Nice one.
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Thanks much, Trish. If that’s your picture, very nice one!
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What a unique tale Li. The bees do work very hard.
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Thanks much, Sadje, yes they do <3
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You’re most welcome
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Each species has its good and bad points. (K)
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Poor bees, they work so hard then we steal their honey.
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I know! Beekeepers are only supposed to take half (per the excellent documentary, “Honeyland”) but I wonder how many adhere to it?
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We shall have honey tonight! Long Live the Queen!
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:) Great comment. Thanks, Trent.
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His sacrifice will not go unnoticed!
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Would that we humans have such dedication to each other’s welfare (short of dropping dead.)
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Very clever, Lisa. Poor Harald, doing what bees do :)
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Linda, thanks much <3
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Birds fly, fish swim, bees busy. :-) Well done, Lisa.
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Bill, thanks much :)
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what an ending. it stung.
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An underappreciated, thankless life, sacrificed for his family. I agree.
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If I was a bee…I would go straight to that picture
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I would too. Every tip of every spike full of pollen.
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Harald has done his job and is entitled to rest in peace now.
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Sandra, yes, may he rest in peace <3
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A bee’s life is a serious one! What pay dirt to have found Gene’s yard and let his fellow workers know. Wonderful take, Lisa.
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Thanks Dale. His queen was wise in choosing the location of their hive.
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Yes, she was…
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Poor Harald, but at least he died full and happy. Many of us would dream of such an end.
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<3 Well-said!
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RIP, Harald.
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<3
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This reads like an adorable fairytale for kids.
A nice teaching tool for kids to enjoy about the
life of a bee.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks much, Isadora!
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vert fun read, plus you do a great job of having multiple characters within a complete story in 100 words. :)
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Thank you so much.
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The hierarchy of bees never ceases to amaze me. You captured their life in a skilful way in your writing by drawing me into their world.
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James, thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed the story.
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Poor Harold… but he did what he needed to do.
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Yes, he did. Thank you, Laurie.
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