Deep in the forest, a bear went thud-thud along the path. His belly was terribly hungry. Nose in the air, he sniffed and sniffed and walked on and on — “Something sweet… where is it?” Sunlight glinted on the leaves, and the bear's mouth watered.
A little farther on, the bear stopped short. From a branch of a big tree hung a golden honeycomb! Drip… drip… the honey trickled down. The bear's eyes lit up — “Wow! So much honey! Today I'll eat my fill.”
Just then a bee came buzzing and settled on the tip of the bear's nose. “Stop, friend! This is our home. Hands off, or I'll sting you!” Annoyed, the bear took a swipe — “Off with you, you tiny little fly!” And just like that — zip! The bee stung his nose and darted into the hive.
One little sting, and the bear's head was on fire! “Sting me, will you? I'll show you!” Growling with rage, the bear reared up on two legs, raised his paws and lunged at the honeycomb — rip, rip, he tore the whole hive apart!
And oh, what a storm broke loose! Out of the whole hive came thousands of bees, tumbling out — bzzzz! A black-and-gold storm. Ears, nose, back — wherever they could reach, a sting! The bear threw his paws about to save himself, but who can win against a thousand bees?
The bear ran for his life — thud-thud-thud! Past the trees, past the bushes, and straight into the pond he leapt — sploosh! The bees could reach him no more. Poor bear ducked his face under the water, panting for breath.
Evening fell by the pond. Nose swollen like a drum, aching all over, the bear sat quietly. He said to himself, “I could easily have borne one little sting… but my own temper called down a thousand.” That burning ache — the bear never forgot it.