The bear and the squirrel

The bear pushed the envelope back
across the counter. “I’m sorry,” he said,
“I don’t have enough.”
The squirrel serving him said,
“That’s okay, you can pay me in honey.”

The bear looked at the squirrel.
The squirrel pointed at the beehive
under the bear’s arm.
“Ah, yes of course,” said the bear,
“I had forgotten.” And with the other paw
he scooped into the hive and
slapped the honey down
hard on the counter,
“There you are.”

The squirrel looked at the bear.
The bear looked at the squirrel.
Together they looked at the envelope.
It was the squirrel who spoke, “Well,
at least you won’t need to lick the stamp.”