When they asked, Norman volunteered. Because his boss passed him over, his wife wanted a divorce, and his children stopped calling. Because he hated being a coward.
He strode to the front where a man tied a tiny box around Norman’s neck, said “Hold very still,” and opened the hive.
Bees landed on Norman’s neck, chest, face, gathering around their queen. He smiled, searching the crowd for his wife. There: leaving out the back door. He opened his mouth to call her name, and a bee crawled onto his tongue. Norman froze. Nothing to do, but watch her go.