Bye-Bye Bees, Whiz Away Wasps

by Shelley White

It was a lovely sunny day
For picnicking outdoors
They packed the quiche and chicken legs
The cola and some straws.

Mum found a quiet grassy spot
All shaded by an oak tree
She put the tartan blanket down -
Wished them all 'Bon appetit!'

While Wanda ate her sausage roll
A wasp came out of nowhere
It inspected all the sandwiches
Then flew around her hair.

When Wanda started panicking
It stung her on the arm
As it swelled up the pain was bad
Mum said 'Try to stay calm.'

To give Wanda some quick relief
Mum made a cold compress
From a tea-towel and some ice-cubes
After that the pain was less.

Soon mum found some sting relief cream
She kept inside the car
She gently massaged it on the sting
Saying 'Wanda, you're a star!'

Later it was Bertie's turn
To catch some stinging action
A lonesome bee landed on his leg
And 'Yikes!' was his reaction.

The sting with tiny poison sack
Was embedded in his skin
Mum removed it with her tweezers
So the poison couldn't get in.

A very small number of people
Are allergic - stings ruin their day
If they've difficulty with their breathing
Seek medical help straight away.

Or if in the first ten minutes or so
Their face looks a bit strange and swells
Or if they suffer a collapse
Then heed these warning bells.

It's likely what they're suffering
Is anaphylactic shock
Get them to a doctor quick
Or they could end up a crock.

Their severe allergic reaction's
Treated with an adrenaline shot
Don't panic - this condition's rare
And is no trouble to spot.

They'll go home with a special device
That's called an Epipen -
A syringe filled with adrenaline
For their use if they're stung again.

Mum's learned a good lesson
Since the picnic with Wanda and Bertie
'Remember to put on repellent
So insects don't take a liberty!'