Mr. Beeze and That Pesty Thorn

Ever felt the searing sting of a bee? This question relentlessly pursued Shawn throughout his formative years and into adulthood, and each time, Shawn guarded the truth like a cherished secret, convinced that admitting it would cast him as a villain—a bad child who reveled in taunting and teasing the innocent.

Flashback to a time when Shawn, on the brink of eight years old, stumbled upon a hive nestled alongside his family's home. Bees, like miniature avengers, created a frenzied symphony in Shawn's yard, inducing stress and tension during his innocent play. His youthful mischief escalated from playfully prodding the hive with sticks to the daring game of throwing rocks, always concluding with a mad dash for safety.

In a bold act of defiance, armed with a hose, Shawn confronted the hive head-on. Little did he know, one particular bee had reached its limit. Chasing Shawn down the side of the house, into the backyard, and up the stairs to the kitchen back door, it was a race against the inevitable. As Shawn reached for the doorknob, the bee seized its opportunity, zipping up his shorts. In the blink of an eye, the inevitable occurred, and without a doubt, the bee stung him on his bum. The painful truth was out, and Shawn's journey with the bees had left an indelible mark, forever etched in the vault of his memories.