Small road,
Moving forward.
Emily looked eagerly out her window as Papa pulled the car up to her right.
Mama helped little Jack out of his seat and Emelina ran up the curving old stone stairs to the big backyard,
Thick with clover,
Where boys were laughing and jumping and taking turns flipping on a large trampoline.
Emelina called Ricky,
Waving when he saw her.
Emelina kicked off her shoes and ran through the cool clover to join in the jumping fun.
Ricky's older brothers Max and Lucas were jumping there too.
They made room for Emelina to join and she squealed as her hair flew and she jumped higher and higher,
Flying.
Mama and Papa and little Jack went over to the patio and greeted their dear friends Mr.
And Mrs.
Holtz,
Who were already serving up afternoon tea.
Little Jack played with Ricky's younger sister Melanie while the mamas and the papas talked together.
Mama watched as Emelina played joyfully,
Now running barefoot in the cool clover again.
Suddenly Emelina shrieked and dropped down to grab hold of her foot.
Ow,
Ow,
Ow,
Mama,
Ow,
My foot.
What is it,
Emelina?
Mama jumped up from her seat and raced over to Emelina.
I don't know,
Something hurt my foot.
Was it a rock?
Asked Mama.
Oh,
It felt sharp like a poke and it's hurting,
Hurting,
Hurting,
Even right now.
Mama looked around at the happy bees buzzing from white clover flower to white clover flower.
Was it a sting?
Mama asked.
Yes,
It feels like a sting,
Emelina cried out.
Mrs.
Holtz approached Mama and Emelina.
What happened?
She asked softly.
I think it was a bee sting,
Mama said sadly,
Knowing how painful bee stings can be.
Let's make sure the stinger is out,
Said Mrs.
Holtz.
She lifted up Emelina's foot and together they all looked at the swollen red spot on the side of her foot,
Near her little toe.
No stinger could be seen.
That is good,
Said Mrs.
Holtz calmly.
Then it can't keep stinging her.
Yes,
Said Mama,
Holding Emelina who was rocking herself.
But it seems like Emelina is really hurting.
What is it?
Called Papa from the patio.
What happened?
Bee sting,
Called Mama.
Oh no,
Papa cried.
Don't worry,
Smiled Mrs.
Holtz.
I have exactly the thing to help her.
You do?
Asked Mama,
Surprised.
Yes,
Follow me please.
Emelina held onto Mama as they followed Mrs.
Holtz into the back door and up the steps,
Until they finally reached the upstairs bathroom.
Mrs.
Holtz opened her large cabinet door and carefully removed a big plastic box from a high shelf.
She opened the lid and inside were more than a hundred little glass vials.
What is that?
Asked Emelina.
Mrs.
Holtz smiled.
This is homeopathy.
Homeopathy?
Asked Emelina and Mama together.
Yes,
Homeopathy.
Each of these little vials has a remedy for something different.
Mrs.
Holtz browsed carefully across the top of the vials and selected one.
And this is the one for bee stings.
There's something in there just for bee stings?
Mama asked,
Still surprised.
You keep all of those things here at your home just in case there's a bee sting or whatever the other ones are for?
Yes,
Laughed Mrs.
Holtz.
I do.
With three boys and now Melanie too,
We often need one remedy or another.
Mrs.
Holtz opened the bee sting remedy and poured five tiny white balls into the lid.
Open your mouth,
Emelina,
And I will pour these under your tongue.
You can suck on them and they will make your bee sting feel better.
Emelina opened her mouth happily.
Mrs.
Holtz tipped the lid carefully over Emelina's open mouth and all five little white balls rolled right in and landed under Emelina's tongue.
Emelina closed her mouth and smiled.
It tastes good,
She said with big eyes to Mama.
Well that's good,
Mama laughed.
You never know with medicine what it's going to taste like.
Mrs.
Holtz put away her box and Mama helped Emelina walk carefully back out to the patio.
It's feeling better,
Mama,
Emelina announced as they reached the last step.
Really?
Already?
That's super,
Said Mama.
Well let's go ahead and sit here on the patio together with Papa and Little Jack for now,
Okay?
Okay,
Mama.
How's my girl?
Asked Papa when they arrived back.
Great,
Said Emelina.
I think she's better,
Whispered Mama.
Ricky and his brothers ran past across the yard.
Little Jack and Melanie got up to join in the fun.
May I go play now,
Mama?
Asked hopefully.
You're sure you're fine?
Yes,
It doesn't hurt anymore.
Okay,
Said Mama,
Grinning in happiness.
But let's go ahead and wear shoes and this clover for today,
Okay?
Bees love their clover.
Okay,
Mama,
Emelina raced off to put on her socks and shoes and then zoomed after Ricky,
Melanie,
Little Jack,
And the bigger boys too.
