ALL THE BEES WERE BUSY as bees. All but Phoebe.

She always put off until tomorrow what she should be doing today.

“You’re going to ruin our reputation,” said the other bees. “People always say ‘busy as bees’ because bees are supposed to be busy.”

“I’ll be busy tomorrow,” promised Phoebe. “Today I want to smell the flowers and have a good time.”

But tomorrow came and Phoebe was still smelling the flowers and having a good time.

“I’ll work tomorrow,” said Phoebe.

Every day the bees made honey. They worked all summer long. They didn’t have time for anything else. They didn’t have time to smell the flowers. They didn’t have time to have a good time.

Phoebe kept putting off working.

“You’ll be sorry,” said the other bees. “You’ll be sorry that you always put off until tomorrow what you should be doing today.”

“What’s so great about doing it today?” asked Phoebe. “Tomorrow will be just as good. Better, probably.”

Finally the bees had finished making the honey.

“We’re glad we’re finished with our job,” said the bees. “We’re glad we didn’t put off working, the way Phoebe did.”

That night a little bear came and ate all the honey.

So the next day the bees had to start all over again.

Phoebe smiled as she smelled the flowers and had a good time. “I’m glad I kept putting off until tomorrow what I should have been doing all along,” said Phoebe.