Bee

I was about 10 I went to the local swimming pool I noticed a bee floating on it’s back It’s legs spinning frantically in the air I scooped him up gently And transported him safely to the side of the pool With as much dexterity as I could muster I turned my hand over to set him free on dry land He wouldn’t let go I shook my hand gently to encourage him It eventually fell off but stayed on the ground motionless Then the pain struck I turned my hand palm up There in the very centre was the sting Like a barbed hook with attached umbilical It pulsed My hand throbbed I was instantly minded of a saying of my nan “no good deed goes unpunished” Or that’s how I remembered it I sobbed silently I took to swimming underwater So nobody would notice my tears