That’s how she got her name; she was always everywhere, asking questions. She wanted to know how Daddy Bee mended the hive, or how Mummy Bee ran the hive. Why they have to go out every day, or why Granddad and Grandma told such great old time stories.
But if there was one thing that Baby Busy Bee was even more excited to discover, it was why her family danced each day.
From the time the sun came up, Mummy and Daddy Bee would go buzzing out of the hive, along with all her uncles, aunts and big cousins.
When the swarm came back they would begin to dance the strangest and most fascinating dances.
After the dances were over, her big brothers and sisters would go out and come back with the nectar which they needed to make their honey.
Baby Busy Bee loved to watch them dance, but the dances looked so confusing, that the little bee would just sit in awe and wonder.
It was a rainy morning two days later when Baby Busy Bee learnt why they danced.
The morning began like any other, the big bees went buzzing out while the little bees stayed with Grandma and Granddad Bee.
This morning however, the bees were not back, and it was later than usual. Baby Busy Bee’s big brothers and sisters were getting worried.
The sun climber higher and higher in the sky and still the swarm had not returned. By this time, even Granddad and Grandma Bee were very worried.
As the sun reached its highest, Grandma Bee called the big brothers and sisters and told them that they would have to go and look for the rest of the swarm.
Leaving another swarm of bees to guard the hive, the others went off to search.
But as the sun began to climb down, that group did not return.
There were no more bees to spare since the ones there had to protect the hive, but everyone, especially the little bees, were starving by now because most of the honey had been used up.
As dusk approached, Granddad Bee looked at Baby Busy Bee and said, “Baby Busy Bee, you will have to go and find the rest of the swarm. We have no other choice because you are now the only one we can send.”
Baby Busy Bee was as scared as she was excited. She always wanted to go outside the hive, but now the future of the hive was at stake.
“But how will I be able to find them?” she cried, “I don’t know anything about the outside!”
“Find them, Baby Busy Bee,” said Granddad Bee sternly but gently, “You are a bright little bee, you will know what to do.”
The rain was still falling when Baby Busy Bee looked out at the door of the hive, everything was dark and dreary, all the trees and flowers took on menacing shapes to little Baby Busy Bee.
She took a deep breath, bent her head forward, and flew off through the rain.
Baby Busy Bee flew for a long, long, time, calling out for Mummy Bee and Daddy Bee, but no one answered.
Suddenly, after Baby Busy Bee felt she could fly no more, a dark shape loomed ahead.
It was another hive; there were two of them she saw after flying closer.
Baby Busy Bee felt hopeful. Maybe they would help her find her swarm.
She flew to the door and knocked, but no-one answered. She knocked again, and through the sound of the rain, she heard the muffled sound of bees buzzing loudly, but no-one opened the door.
Looking down, she realised that the door was locked from the outside. That was strange to her because her hive always had an inside lock.
“How will they come out if the door is locked on the outside?” she thought to herself.
The little bee decided to fly around the hive, looking for another way in, but the hive was shut up tightly.
Then Baby Busy Bee realised that the buzzing in the hive began to sound strange, it was a sound she had never heard before and it scared her. The buzzing noise, getting louder and louder, was coming from both hives.
Baby Busy Bee quickly flew behind a tree; safely away from the scary noises, she called out, “Is...is everything ok?”
The buzzing got even louder, then, in the midst of the buzzing, Baby Busy Bee recognised Mummy Bee’s faint voice.
“Baby Busy Bee, is that you?” Mummy Bee cried
“Mummy Bee!” Baby Busy Bee shouted back frantically, “What’s wrong?”
“We have been captured and locked in, Baby Busy Bee!” her mother replied, “You need to go back and tell the others where we are so that they can get us out” “But the others are also looking for you, and they too have not returned to the hive,” she yelled over the pounding of the rain which was falling harder by this time.
Then she heard Daddy Busy Bee’s voice: “Baby Busy Bee, you need to go back to the hive and tell Granddad Bee, he will be able to get us out.”
“But how can I tell him where you are? I don’t know where I am, I flew so far I think I am lost!” Baby Bee wailed in despair, flying up to the hive, dodging the huge raindrops and speaking to her parents through the locked door.
“Baby Busy Bee!” her father said firmly “You are always watching our dances when we come home. You must have seen that after we are finished, your bigger brothers and sisters return with food.”
Baby Busy Bee nodded her head and shouted “Yes Daddy Bee, I noticed.”
“Then you have to learn to dance now!” her father replied.
Baby Busy Bee was astonished! Learn to dance? But how? she wondered. And why did she have to learn to dance now when her mummy and daddy were locked up in a strange hive?
The poor little baby Bee was scared and confused. She wished she was back home with Mummy Bee and Daddy Bee and the rest of her family.
“Baby Busy Bee, listen to me,” her father continued. “Do you remember the waggle dance and the round dance?”
Immediately Baby Busy Bee remembered seeing the dances where the bees had wagged their tails or circled first to the right or to the left. “Yes, yes I remember” she called out excitedly.
“Ok Baby Busy Bee,” her father replied, “You need to remember how you came here, imagine your path in your mind, and when you reach home you will have to dance for them to know how far away we are from the hive.”
“The sun is coming up Baby Busy Bee,” her father continued, “you need to leave immediately. If you find that you flew very far you must dance the waggle or tail-wagging dance; that will tell them how far away we are, but if it is a short distance, you have to do the round dance!”
“Baby Busy Bee, don’t forget, use the sun to help, if you find that you are going away from the sun you must dance straight down, and straight up if you are in the same direction. It is important so that Granddad Bee will know where we are!” her mother added.
Poor Busy Baby Bee, it all sounded so confusing.
But she frowned in concentration, remembering her parents’ instructions, and retracing her flight in her head.
“I won’t forget!” she shouted, “Bye Mummy Bee!” then she flew off, back to her hive.
As she flew, Baby Busy Bee realised that it was not so scary in the bright sunlight. She remembered everything that she had passed the night before.
The little bee was overjoyed to see home when she saw her hive in the distance.
Granddad Bee and Grandma Bee were there with her big brothers and sisters. They had returned just after she left, not being able to find anyone.
“Granddad, Grandma Bee, I found them, I found them,” she cried with joy. “They are...they are...”
Then she realised that she knew no way of saying where they were or how far away.
“So that’s why they dance!” She said out loud in wonder.
“So that’s why they dance! Granddad, Grandma I can tell you, I can tell you where they are. I know how to dance, I know...” she gleefully shouted.
“Calm down Baby Busy Bee, and tell us” her Granddad pleaded, “Are they ok?”
“Oh no,” Baby Busy Bee cried, “They are locked up in a strange hive with another strange swarm in another hive next to them- Oh Grandma Bee it’s horrible!” And Baby Busy Bee began to cry.
After Granddad and Grandma Bee quietened the little bee, they asked her to tell them where her mummy and daddy were.
Baby Busy Bee remembered what her mummy and daddy taught her that cold, rainy and miserable night, and the little baby bee danced her heart away.
First she understood that she had to dance the waggle dance to let them know Mummy Bee was very far away from the bougainvillaea tree where they lived.
She danced straight down, wagging her tail for a long while because she remembered flying away from the rising sun for what seemed like for a long time.
The other bees looked on in amazement. Finally, one of the big brothers exclaimed, “I know where they are, I know. Come follow me!”
The swarm of big brothers and sisters flew off in a cloud. When they returned the sun was higher in the sky, but they all came back with food and water for the hive.
Baby Busy Bee was very happy to see her mum and dad, but she was also very tired and sleepy after her adventure.
Mummy Bee scooped her up in her arms and took her to bed, proudly looking at the bravest little baby bee she ever knew.