I’m about 6 years old, and my family and I are on a Summer camping trip. This is nothing new; I was 3 when we took our first trip. But this one is different.
I’m standing near the grill, hungrily waiting for my dad to make some burgers. To this day everything tastes better to me on the grill! But my excitement turns to pain and panic when a bee stings me, right between my fingers. I’m blind, so I don’t see it coming. The sighted kids get stung all the time anyway, but this is my initiation if you will.
I stand still, then burst into tears, clutching one hand with the other. Lunch is a little delayed while my hand is taken care of. After that it’s back to the suddenly serious business of camping. And I learn to respect bees. So small, yet so powerful!
Best camping darkens
Explosion of pain and fear
Enormous bee stings
—
A Haibun for
dVerse.
Mystical Strings 
Even the sighted don’t always see those bees coming! Ouch! No haibun!
That must be something to have excitement turn to pain like that–and not to see what happened either must be scary.
Good thing you are not allergic! I learned to respect bees too at around 6. But I watched my dog eat one and decided it must be good if he ate it so…I keep bees and am allergic but I still keep them and miraculously have not been stung. I love the thoughts of you as a child waiting by the grill for a burger. That is such a sweet, intimate detail.
It is hard to avoid some of those insects. The worst for me are mosquitoes.
Dr. Grimes, I enjoyed your haibun (not the beesting part) for its realism and reminiscing about a special time in your life.
Yes, I still remember that trip fondly, because of the family, friends, and food. 😋
It’s nice to know that the bee sting doesn’t monopolize your memory of that time, especially considering its connection with nature. Having family experience the moment with you is an added bonus, even with the pain of the sting. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that your parents felt that bee sting as much as you did.
you set the scene well, what an outdoor spoiler!
I love how you learned, much the same way as the seeing kind, the sting is never forgotten.
oooch!! Pain interlaces with all of the good memories, burger even more of a joy, but the pain still gave its memory. Bzzz!