The first day of summer for six-year-old Oliver began with restless anticipation. Grandad William had decided to take him to the apiary for the whole seasona place hed heard so much about from his dad! Mum had hesitated at first but eventually agreed, though not for the entire summer, just until August. Then, she and Dad would come to fetch him from the remote countrysidetime to prepare for school. This year, Oliver was starting Year One!
Grandad William arrived early in his old Rover, bringing treats from the woods, but Ollie barely glanced at them. He buzzed around his grandfather, tugging at his shirtsleeve every few minutes, eager to leaveterrified something might happen to change Mums mind. Chuckling at his grandsons impatience, Grandad ruffled his hair.
“Dont fret, Ollie. Its settled! Best eat breakfast nowlunch will be at the apiary!”
Finally, they loaded the car and set off. For the first time, Oliver was without his parents watchful eyes. But Grandad wasnt just any guardianhe was a friend! He never lectured or scolded, and you could talk to him about anything, discuss world affairs seriously, without him ever looking down at you. Of course notthey were two sensible people having sensible conversations!
Oliver dozed off embarrassingly during the ride, only waking when the car jolted onto a bumpy dirt track. Outside, birch groves drifted past, so close he could almost touch them. And the scent! Nothing like the city. The fields were alive with flowersblue, yellow, whiteswaying like a restless sea under the breeze, as if he and Grandad were sailing a boat through green waves.
“Are we nearly there?” Oliver nudged his grandfathers shoulder, pretending he hadnt been asleep at all.
“Almost. Just beyond that copse. Old Toms probably waiting. Sos Shadow and her kitten.”
“Shadows the mum?” Oliver guessed. “Will she let me play with the kitten?”
“If you respect her and treat her little one kindly, yes. But if youre rough, shell swat youstrictest mum youll ever meet. Not like yours.”
“Me? Scolded by a cat?” Oliver scoffed. No cat had ever dared!
“Not just any cat. Mind her, dont stare too long. Shes gentle, but wildprotective of her young.”
They arrived at two log cabinsone large, one small. From the smaller, at the sound of the car, emerged… a wildcat!
Oliver froze, but seeing her rub against Grandads legs, he gathered courage.
“Now thats a cat!” he breathed. Shadow sniffed him, thenas if approvingwinked and brushed against his legs. When Oliver crouched, she nudged his face with her damp nose, making him laugh.
“Properly introduced now,” Grandad smiled. “Youre family to her.”
Oliver gaped at the striped bees darting aboutnothing like city insects. One landed on his cheek. Then disaster struck. Ignoring Grandads warning, he swatted it. Pain shot through his face, worse than any jab! Hissing, he wobbled as Grandad removed the sting.
“Youre tough as nails! Didnt even whimper,” Grandad said proudly. “Bees only sting when threatened. Leave them be, and theyll leave you be.”
A bearded man with twinkling eyes shook Olivers hand. “Im Grandad Tom. You must be Ollie.”
“Yep. Living here now,” Oliver announced.
“Welcome!” Grandad Tom grinned.
“Grandad, theres a bee on your forehead,” Oliver warned.
Gently, Grandad Tom plucked it up, whispered something, and released it. The bee circled once before vanishing. Amazing!
Within a week, Oliver knew the land, befriended the bees, andmost importantlybonded with Shadows kitten, Simba. When not helping the men, he played with his stubby-tailed friend. Shadow grumbled but allowed it. Simba, nearly three months old, was growing fast. They raced, played tag, and hid in the nearby woodsthough Oliver never won. Simba always found him, purring triumphantly.
The mens company was thrilling. When the bee stung him, no one coddled himGrandad William just removed the sting, and Grandad Tom clapped his shoulder: “Happens to the best of us.” Oliver walked around with a swollen cheek, and no one batted an eye. He felt grown-up.
He rose early, washed in icy water that energized him, joined fishing trips, and even cleaned his catchscaling and gutting fish with his own knife. Grandad Tom gifted him a sheath knife for the woods.
One day, Grandad Tom carried a spotted fawn with a broken leg from the forest. As the men tended it, Oliver stroked its face, soothing it. They built an enclosure for “Bambi,” who stayed a month before healing. Shadow and Simba watched curiously until Grandad Tom murmured something, and they lost interest.
“His mums nearby,” Grandad Tom said. “Shell take him back.”
Sure enough, Bambi vanished one day, leaving Oliver heartbroken.
Grandad William took him berry-pickingwild strawberries, cherries, raspberriesand taught him to identify mushrooms. They gathered basketsful, drying and pickling them for winter. Once, Oliver saw Grandad William talking to a large “dog” in the woods. It listened, offered its paw, then vanished.
“A friend?” Oliver asked.
“A wolf. We freed him from a trap once. Now he watches over us. Wild creatures belong freeeven if we love them.”
Oliver frowned. Hed planned to take Simba home.
Then one morning, Simba and Shadow were gone. Grandad Tom set down his tools.
“Lost Simba? Shadows teaching himhow to hunt, shelter, survive. By winter, theyll leave for good. Hell be fine.”
They returned less often, napping in the cabin before disappearing again.
In August, Mum and Dad arrived. Mum gaspedOliver was taller, tanner, more serious. He even fussed over her like the men did.
Dad knew Shadow from years ago. She purred, rubbing his legs, then pressed her ear to Mums belly and purred knowingly.
“Shadow knows,” Dad laughed.
On leaving day, Oliver called for Simba in vain. Heart heavy, he held back tears until the car pulled away. Thentwo yellow shapes racing alongside!
“Stop!” Oliver cried.
Simba and Shadow appeared, Simba pressing his paws to Olivers shoulders, nuzzling his face. Shadow licked his hand.
“You remembered me!” Oliver sobbed, unashamed.
The farewell lingered. Even Mum wept. Finally, Shadow yowled, and Simba regretfully followed her into the trees, glancing back once with golden eyes.
As the car sped off, Oliver said firmly, “Im coming back next summer.”
“Of course,” Dad replied. “Youve more to learn from themto grow wise as they are.”
And so, with the hum of tires and the ache of parting, Oliver carried the lesson: love means letting go when its time.
