⏱ Read time: 8 minutes -
Summary:
When a terrible coughing plague strikes the springtime forest, a brave little wasp named Tawon is cruelly banished by his noisy neighbors. His lonely journey for peace leads him to a magical palace, where a wise king gives him an impossible medical quest that will change the insect world forever.
Parent's Note for Read Aloud: To make this story come alive for your children, use a raspy, coughing voice for Tawon and a deep, royal voice for Prabu Wicaksana. Pause slightly after every cough to build the magical atmosphere!
The Springtime Plague
Ceritasakti.com - It was the very beginning of a beautiful spring. Every single plant in the forest had blossomed into a brilliant, colorful flower. Hidden deep inside each blooming petal was a sweet, sticky liquid known as nectar, or honey. However, during this time, not a single animal in the forest knew how delicious it was.
Along with the arrival of spring came a freezing, bitter wind from the east.
The sudden change in weather brought a terrible illness to the forest. Almost every winged insect suddenly came down with a severe, unstoppable cough. When night fell, the usually quiet forest was completely filled with the loud, echoing sounds of tiny coughs.
Because of this constant noise, the larger animals like Kambing the Goat, Lembu the Ox, and Kerbau the Buffalo could not get a single wink of sleep.
The Cruel Banishment
"Hey! Can you all just be quiet for one minute?!" shouted Kambing the Goat, stomping his hooves angrily in the dark.
But the poor insects could not stop. The sickness was simply too strong.
Finally, Lembu the Ox lost his temper completely. "Listen here, you Wasps, Mosquitos, and Termites! Do you not have wings? Fly far away from here so we can finally sleep in peace!"
The sick insects were too exhausted to argue. Tawon the Wasp looked at his shivering friends. "What kind of medicine could possibly cure this terrible cough?" he asked softly.
"I have no idea, Tawon," sighed Laron the Termite. "I have been coughing for months, and nothing works."
The Lonely Tree and the Palace
Tired of being constantly insulted by the larger animals, Tawon made a brave decision. He decided to leave the forest floor and fly up to the very top of the tallest tree.
"I will just live up here," Tawon told himself. "I can cough as loud as I want, and I will not bother a single animal."
Despite being high up in the sky, his cough only grew worse. The cold night air made his tiny chest ache. He desperately tried to think of a cure. He remembered an old story told by a wise ant, who claimed that sweet flower honey could heal a sick throat. But which flower? If he chose the wrong one, it might be poisonous!
As the night grew darker, Tawon started to feel incredibly lonely and afraid. "If I fall asleep and tumble from this branch, no one will catch me," he shivered.
Suddenly, a warm, golden light caught his eye in the distance. Tawon flew toward the beautiful glow. It was a magnificent, massive house.
"Who could possibly live here?" Tawon wondered. "It must be a very wealthy person, or perhaps... the palace of King Prabu Wicaksana!"
The Royal Encounter
Tawon rested on a nearby guava tree, coughing loudly into the quiet night.
Inside the grand palace, King Prabu Wicaksana was awake. "Guards!" the King called out. "Who is coughing outside my window? Go and check immediately!"
A loyal guard rushed outside holding a blazing torch. He pointed the light toward the guava tree and found the shivering little insect.
"Hey, who are you?" the guard demanded.
"My name is... cough, cough... Tawon, sir," the tiny wasp replied politely.
The guard quickly returned to the King to report his strange discovery. A few moments later, the guard came back outside. "Tawon, His Majesty King Prabu Wicaksana has requested to see you immediately."
Tawon was terrified. What did he do wrong? He fluttered his tired wings and followed the guard into the magnificent throne room.
The Secret of the Seven Flowers
"Is it true that you are a wasp?" King Prabu Wicaksana asked gently, looking down at the tiny insect. "Why are you wandering outside my palace in the middle of the night?"
Tawon respectfully bowed and told the King his entire sad story, explaining the terrible plague and how the larger animals had banished him.
"I see," the King nodded slowly, his eyes filled with worry. "This coughing plague is attacking everyone. My own beloved grandson has been sick for two months, and he cannot stop coughing."
Just then, a guard announced the arrival of the Royal Physician. The King invited Tawon to follow them to the young prince's bedroom.
"I have invited dozens of healers here," the King sighed, looking at his sick grandson. "But no one has been able to cure him."
The Royal Physician carefully examined the boy. He stood up and spoke in a serious, quiet voice. "My King, there is only one medicine in the world that can cure this illness. It is the pure, liquid honey collected from seven different magical flowers."
Hearing this, King Prabu Wicaksana turned to the brave little wasp. He gave Tawon a royal command to fly across the world and collect the nectar of the seven magical flowers. But will the tiny, sick wasp be strong enough to survive the dangerous journey?
To be continued...
Read the exciting conclusion in The Origin of the Honey Bee (Part 2 - Finale)!
The Moral Message of the Fable
If you are reading this animal fable for kids before bed, there are two wonderful lessons to discuss.
First, this story teaches us the profound importance of empathy and tolerance. Kambing and Lembu were cruel to the sick insects instead of helping them. When our friends or neighbors are unwell, we should always offer kindness and support, never insults.
Second, the moral message of this fable highlights the power of resilience. Even though Tawon was sick, lonely, and banished from his home, he never gave up. His brave journey led him to the King's palace, proving that when we face difficult challenges, we can always find a magical solution if we keep moving forward.
Questions About the Story
✔Why did Tawon the wasp need to find honey in this story?
In this educational fable story for kids, Tawon is given a very special, royal quest by the Royal Physician. He must collect the nectar of seven magical flowers to create a natural medicine to cure the King's grandson and all the sick insects in the forest.
In this educational fable story for kids, Tawon is given a very special, royal quest by the Royal Physician. He must collect the nectar of seven magical flowers to create a natural medicine to cure the King's grandson and all the sick insects in the forest.
✔What is the main lesson of The Origin of the Honey Bee?
This classic tale teaches children about caring for the environment, showing tolerance toward all living creatures, and having a brave, never-give-up attitude when searching for solutions to difficult problems.
Is your little one excited to find out what happens to Tawon on his magical quest? Share this educational bedtime story for kids with other parents! Send the link via WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook, discuss the moral lesson on X (Twitter), and make sure to pin this beautiful watercolor illustration to your favorite Pinterest board so you do not miss Part 2!
