Uncle Z's sad story...

Neither Wilson nor I can understand how the bees tolerate Uncle Zoltan's rudeness, and W told them so.

Billi replied that Uncle Z has had a very sad life — tragic, even — and he was unused to the company of other bees. Or indeed of anyone, as he lived completely alone in a big old hive which had fallen into grave disrepair, and now he was getting too old and frail to cope.

Polly explained that when Uncle Z was very young, scarcely more than a pupa, he had been engaged to be married to the Queen Bee… but was jilted at the altar; since then he has lived alone, just Uncle Z and his un-cut wedding cake.

'You simply have to make allowances!' both bees finished, in unison.