HAVE you ever had an encounter with bees? GIFT KALABA has been and he now narrates his stinging tale.

THIS STORY, the day I was attacked by a swarm of bees, will forever hold a place in my mind. It was rekindled when I was playing chess with Nathan Mwila, Jericho Mambwe, Leevanile Mwewa and Claude Chabuka as we shared amusing childhood adventures.
I was 11 years old at the time living with only my father, mother, my aunt Ruth Mulenga (now Mrs Sinyinza) my kid sister Mailess and little brother Mwenya.
We lived in Kitwe Wusakile area where most houses are not of good quality. The outsides were shabby with bad street roads.
Fortunately, our house was extended by our great family man, Richard Kalaba, my father, to suit our family size.
My friends Emmanuel Kashiwa, Conrad Musongo and Richard Simwanza and I often played in a field where we made lots of memories like playing soccer.  One beautiful afternoon with the sun shining bright and beating down, I looked through the living room window, looked at the clock and it was my day to go to school.
Like any other school days, I prepared myself and was on my way to
school located in Chamboli and, like I always did, I got there on time.
But upon my arrival I realized I had forgotten a 2.5-litre container of water I was supposed to carry as the school had no supply of water.
So with other students, we were told to go back and get them.
But the distance to my home discouraged me; I wasn’t keen to go back.
But still reluctant to return home, I thought of trying to find one container from a nearby place.
Unfortunately, I did not find one so I decided to just ran back home.
As I arrived in my area I quickly noticed something.
There was quietness and it wasn`t in its natural state which amused me.
I had crowded thoughts about what was happening; I first thought maybe an accident had happened and everyone had gone there to watch or maybe all noise making children had gone to school but all this was impossible.
So I continued walking with a curious mind while staring at the houses with their windows and doors closed.
As I walked, I did not notice that bees were flying about in the sky until when I reached my street.
Suddenly, I felt a strange sensation in my spine that alarmed me as I heard the sound of the bees. After a few steps two bees attacked me and after a few struggles and swings in the air, I managed to kill them.
But just when I was about to say“lucky me!” I felt a sting from another bee on my neck.
It was then that I realised that my area was attacked by a swarm of bees. I thought of nothing else but to run, not realizing running would cost me more trouble.
I was in a state of painful confusion, such that I forgot were my house was. I ran helter-skelter-
I would go left, right, west, east and back again as the sound and vibration made me more confused.
As I kept on running while crying in a loud voice, I just heard a voice calling me ‘‘Come in here.’’
I didn’t know exactly where “here” was, but fortunately, I found myself in my parents’ house.
I was stung on my head, neck, face and hands.
But I was given the care I needed. However, at some point I asked for a mirror to check on my condition.
What did I see? My head was twice its size! That’s how I aborted the return journey to school. Next time you see bees buzzing, be careful.

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