Little Bee - Chapter 1: Bea's dad gets the prize (extract from the novel: "Little Bee")

Bea opened her eyes and immediately felt that something special was going to happen. She could hear her mum preparing breakfast in the kitchen and her dad humming happily in the hall. She got up, stretched her wings and opened the bedroom door. The house looked as usual, but she knew something had changed. She walked into the kitchen and looked around. Her mum was making toast with honey and honey tea.

‘Hi, Bea’ said her mum, not even turning around. ‘Did you sleep well, darling?’

‘Yes, I did,’ answered Bea, collapsing at the table. ‘But is anything different today?’ She asked as her dad came into the kitchen. His face was beaming and he seemed happier than ever.

‘Yes, Bea, I think it is,’ said her mum and put the plates with toasts on the table. ‘Roger, tell our daughter what is different today.’

She smiled and reached for the kettle.

‘Hi Bea, did you sleep well?’ Asked Bea’s dad, grabbing a plate.

‘I did, but what happened?’ Bea was asking impatiently.

            Her dad smiled, too, and said:

‘You see, Bea, I have been working in the factory for a long time, even longer than your mum, so I have been given a prize for my good work.’

‘So this means that you’re the best worker in the factory, right?’ Bea asked, feeling proud of her dad.

‘No, Bea, I wouldn’t say that.’ He sat at the table and took a sip of his tea. ‘Everyone works really hard and, to be honest, this prize should be for everyone. The reason why I got it is because I have been there for longer than others.’

‘Don’t listen to your dad, Bea,’ said her mum, still smiling. ‘He’s just too modest. He really deserves a praise for his achievements. He saved the entire factory from being destroyed once and he’s been an excellent worker.’

Bea’s dad blushed and she would normally laugh at him a little, but this time she just looked at him, amazed.

‘Really? You saved the factory from being destroyed?’

‘Well… I wouldn’t have done it without the others…’ He shrugged his shoulders as if saving the factory wasn’t anything special.

‘But others wouldn’t have done it without you,’ Bea’s mum interrupted him. ‘Ok, enough of that. You two eat your breakfast and then you can go on the field if you want, Bea. We’ll meet you there. Oh, and the ceremony is tonight, ok? Don’t forget.’

‘What ceremony?’ Bea looked up at her mum from over her toast, honey dripping down her chin.

‘Your dad’s ceremony, you silly,’ said mum, still smiling. ‘He will receive his prize tonight,’ Bea’s mum rushed towards her, trying to remove the honey from Bea’s face. Bea backed away and wiped her chin. ‘It is going to be a very special evening…’ She added and cleaned Bea’s face with a tea towel.

            Bea smiled, too. None of them knew that the evening was going to be special for a completely different reason than the ceremony.

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