IWas Upset That My Grandfather Only Left Me an Old Apiary until I Looked into the Beehives The biggest disappointment my late grandfather, who had promised me the world and told me stories of hidden treasure, had left me was an old, dusty apiary.
Who puts their grandchild in a shack full of insects? Up until the day I looked inside the beehives, this horrible joke of an inheritance felt like a slap in the face. The morning was ordinary. Aunt Daphne glanced at the disarray on my bed through her glasses. “Robyn, have you packed your bag yet? ”I moaned and covered my phone, saying, “I’m texting Chloe.” “Bus time is almost here! Prepare yourself.” As she stuffed books into my backpack, Aunt Daphne said. I noticed the time. 7:58 a.m.
“Yeah, okay,” I sighed as I stood from the bed. She extended a shirt, ready to be ironed, for me.
You realize that this isn’t what your grandfather had in mind for you. He thought you would be self-sufficient and strong. And the beehives he abandoned? They won’t take care of themselves.” I thought about Grandpa and the honey and the bees. But suddenly all I could think about was Scott, my crush, and the next school dance. “Maybe tomorrow, I’ll check them out,” I responded while arranging my hair. “You never get to see tomorrow.
Robyn, Grandpa had faith in you. She persisted, “He wanted you to look after the apiary. <“Look, Aunt Daphne,” I remarked acerbic. “I’ve got better things to do than take care of Grandpa’s bees!” I saw the tears well up in Aunt Daphne’s eyes and her face collapse. However, I ignored her dejected expression and hurried out as soon as the school bus honked. I was thinking about Scott on the bus, not about the apiary Grandpa Archie had given me. “Who wants an apiary?
” I pondered, irritated by the obligation. But Aunt Daphne brought it up again the following day. She chastised me for ignoring housework and used my phone excessively. She yelled, “You’re grounded, young lady!” and I looked up from my phone at that moment. “Stabilised? For what purpose?”
I objected. She said, “For shirking responsibility,” bringing up the abandoned apiary. “The beehive? That ineffective apiary?” I sneered. “Robyn, it’s all about accountability. Aunt Daphne remarked, her voice choked with emotion, “That’s what Grandpa wanted for you. ”I objected, saying, “Look, Aunt Daphne, I’m afraid I’ll get stung!” She retorted, “You’ll be wearing protective gear.” “A little fear is normal, but you can’t let it stop you.
”I went reluctantly to the apiary. Inquisitive and afraid at the same time, I moved closer to the hive. With my heart racing, I removed the bulky gloves I was wearing and started collecting honey from the hive.
My glove was suddenly stung by a bee. I was about to give up when I felt a wave of resolve wash over me. I have to get this done. I had to show Aunt Daphne that I was not the careless, reckless fourteen-year-old she assumed me to be. I found a fading map with odd markings inside a weather-beaten plastic bag I found inside the hive while extracting honey.
