Bees, Not Fleas!(Marla) Beaver knocked on Bear's door. He was hoping to have a cup of coffee with his buddy.

“What have you been doing, Bear?” he asked.

“I have been keeping bees,” Bear answered.

But Beaver thought that Bear said, “I have been keeping fleas.”

So, Beaver did not say, “Wow! That is fascinating!”

Beaver just looked at Bear who seemed to be waiting to hear, “Wow! That is fascinating!”

Beaver was both confused and disgusted. He thought that no one should admit something like that...except maybe to a doctor who could give a prescription.

An awkward moment passed. Then Beaver said, “Well, I will see you later.”

Bear closed the door, wondered why Beaver had not been interested in the bees, decided not to worry about it, and went back to work with his bees.

Beaver called Skunk’s phone. “Skunk, did you know that Bear has been keeping fleas?”

“Huh?” asked Skunk.

“My thought exactly. But he told me so himself!”

“That's gross,” said Skunk.

Skunk hung up the phone and said to his wife, “Bear has been keeping fleas. On purpose.”

“What? That's offensive.” said Mrs. Skunk.

She called her friend, Fox.

“Fox, Bear has been keeping fleas!”

Fox exclaimed, “Yuck! Why?”

“I've no idea! But I thought that you should know.”

Fox hung up the phone and called squirrel. “Squirrel, did you know that Bear has been keeping fleas?”

“No,” said Squirrel. Thanks for telling me. I'm not going near his house!”

Squirrel called Bird.

“Bird, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Bear has been keeping fleas. You recently mentioned moving your family to the big tree in his yard. Maybe you shouldn't."

“Are you certain?” asked Bird. “He doesn't act as if he has fleas. You know, he doesn't appear to itch.”

“Fox told me. She is smart. And she never lies. Good-bye for now!”

Bird thought. Fox was smart, and Fox wouldn't lie, but maybe Fox was mistaken. Well, there was only way to find out. She would have to talk to Bear. It was almost lunch time. Bird put some raspberries in a basket and knocked on Bear's door.

Bear said, “Hi, Bird! I was just sitting down for lunch. Do you want to join me?”

Bird tried to stay a few steps back as she followed Bear.

She placed the raspberries on his table. She didn't say anything.

“Is something wrong, Bird?”

Bird was always kind. She was always honest. Being both was sometimes difficult.

She took a deep breath. “Bear, I am asking only because I might move to your yard, and I must know. Please don't be angry when I ask you this.”

“I'll do my best,” said Bear.

“Okay. Do you have fleas?”.

“What? Fleas? I have never had fleas! My mother taught me better than that! What makes you ask?”

“I heard that you have been keeping fleas,” said Bird.

“I keep bees, not fleas. Bear thought for a moment. He remembered talking to Beaver. “Hmm. I believe I understand now. That's why Beaver looked at me like that! Did Beaver tell you that I have been keeping fleas?”

Bird said, “Beaver? No. Squirrel told me. Fox told him."

“It's worse than I thought!” said Bear. “I saw Beaver this morning. He must have misheard me.”

“I'm just glad that you don't have fleas!” laughed Bird.

Bear thought for a moment. Then he said, “Bird, will you help me? I am filling jars with honey today. Will you invite all our friends to my house? Tell them to come at 4:00 this afternoon and we will settle everything.”

“Sure!” said Bird.

Bird talked to the friends. At 4:00 that afternoon everyone was at Bear’s house.

“Thank you for coming,” said Bear. “I have a gift for all of you.”

He gave them each a bottle of honey. He said, "My bees made this. I do not have fleas. I have bees. I hope that the next time something doesn’t seem quite right, you will talk to me, and not just about me."

“I’m sorry, Bear,” said Beaver sincerely. “You’re right. Are we still friends?”

Bear's other friends called out their apologies, too.

“Of course, we are still friends! All of you are my friends! Now, let’s eat some honey!”

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