Drucilla, Dalton and the twelve bees of court expected their next guest to arrive at any moment. Punctual to the minute, Dalton’s guard appeared in the entrance to the royal living quarters to inform them that their guest had arrived. Dalton hurried out to welcome him. After a few moments, Dalton reappeared in the royal chambers looking about as pale as a bee could look. His deep, bass voice trembled as he announced the man they had invited.
Dalton: Mr. Frankenstein, your royal Highness.
Drucilla (wondering what had Dalton so discombobulated): Please do come in, Mr. Stein.
The monster stepped into the chamber with a clop. A few bees of court screamed out loud; the rest screamed silently. They backed up against the golden, wax walls of the chamber, wishing they could disappear into them. The monster bowed his head. He had to. Drucilla’s shrinking machine may have shrunk him down to the size of a bee, but he was still a giant bee, just as he was giant among humans.
The monster fixed his gaze on the floor, turning it away from the frightened court bees. His shoulders contradicted his imposing body. He looked more like a guilty school boy looking for a chance to excuse himself and run away.
Drucilla could not see his hideous, scarred face in its entirety. What she did see made her understand the reaction of her court. Dalton had taken his place at her right side. Most of his composure had already returned. Drucilla took a deep breath and steadied herself. No sign fear or disgust could be heard in her voice when she spoke.
Drucilla: Welcome to my beehive, Mr. Stein. Please come and have a seat.
Despite his effort to stomp gracefully, the beehive shook with each step. The bees of court cringed at he passed them. Drucilla and Dalton remained erect, not deviating an inch from their spot. The monster continued to look at the floor. His body filled the room as he stomped and thundered toward the queen. When he reached her throne, he dropped to one knee and remained there in a gesture of honor. Drucilla was so touched, she forgot what she wanted to say. She leaned over and tapped him on the shoulder.
Drucilla: Please take a seat, Mr. Stein. We are very happy you have come to visit us today.
Her visitor sat down in the chair provided for him, but kept his head bowed.
Drucilla (gently): Mr. Stein, would you please look at me when I am speaking to you.
When the monster looked up at her, Drucilla’s heart skipped a beat in shock but her face showed no emotion.
Drucilla (smiling): It must be frightening for you to sit here among a colony of bees. But you have nothing to fear from us.
Monster (uncontrollably loud and slurring his words): N’ya’v nunte fera me.
Drucilla (shaking her head slightly as if to clean out her ears): Pardon me, Mr. Stein. I did not quite understand all of what you said.
Monster: Isd, n’ya’v nunte fera me.
Drucilla looked to Dalton who only raised an eyebrow. The queen’s gazed returned to her guest.
Drucilla (smiling patiently): Could you please say that one more time?
Monster (smiling shily back at her): N’ya’v nunte fera me.
A court bee: Your royal Highness! May I be allowed to speak?
Drucilla (not so patient): This is most unprecedented, Dora. You see I am in the middle of an interview with our honored guest.
Dora: I beg your forgiveness, my Queen. I only wanted to say I think I understand what our honored guest is saying.
Drucilla (her eyes twinkling in relief): Mr. Stein, would you agree to allow one of my bees of court to join us?
Monster: Yuh, ah mastu.
Drucilla: Dora, if you would be so good as to stand to my left side.
Dora took her place next to the queen.
Drucilla (whispering): What on earth is he saying to me?
Dora (whispering back): He said, “And you have nothing to fear of me.”
The monster nodded before he was asked, smiled happily at being understood. When he smiled, one scar turned into a kind of dimple, lending him an air of mischief.
Drucilla: Well, Mr. Stein, I am glad we could clear that up.
Monster: A’ya ca’me missr tine?
Drucilla looked at Dora who only shook her head in bewilderment.
Monster (very slowly): A shi ca me missr tine?
Dora (her face lighting up): Oh, why does she call you Mr. Stein?
Monster (grinning from ear to ear): Yuh! Ya guh.
Dora (half-guessing): I’m good?
Monster (nodding): shi guh!
Drucilla: She’s good?
The monster gave her a thumbs-up sign. All three of them giggled a bit without really knowing why. Dalton watched them dumbfounded.
Monster: A’ya ca’me missr tine?
Drucilla: That’s your name isn’t it. Dalton introduced you as Frank N. Stein.
Dalton waved his feelers and wanted to say something but Drucilla cut him off with a look before he had the chance. She already knew he was going to reprimand her again for not reading the book before her interview. Ach, when was a queen supposed to find time for everything? She decided to watch the movie instead but had not managed to fit that into her schedule either.
Drucilla (turning back to her guest): Should I call you Frank?
The monster’s face twisted into something like dried pear with a round opening for the mouth. Drucilla couldn’t decide if he was in pain or having an asthma attack. His breath came in ragged gasps and his entire rib cage shook in spasms. Drucilla was about to call for a doctor when she saw his eyes twinkle with mirth. The monster was laughing! A grand, hearty laugh.
Monster: Fra’n’tine de man oo ma’me.
The queen looked to Dora, who turned to Dalton, who gaze back to the queen.
Monster (leaning forward and trying with all his might to speak clearly): Fra en tine ih de man oo mak me.
Dora: Frankenstein is the name of the man who made you?
Monster: Yuh!
Drucilla: He made you?!
Behind Dalton groaned. The queen ignored him.
Monster: Yuh!
Drucilla: So what does he call you?
Monster: Mon’tah.
Drucilla (incensed): He calls you Monster? But that’s not a name. What is your real name?
The monster shrugged.
Drucilla: But you have to have a name. Does anyone call you something other than Monster?
The monster only gazed back down at the floor and refused to answer the question. Drucilla’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew what that meant.
Drucilla: Can we call you Frank?
Frank looked up at her and nodded vigorously.
Drucilla: Well, then Frank it is.
A tear sprang from Frank’s eye before he could stop it.
Frank: tha ya.
Drucilla (smiling encouraging without knowing what he said): So, Frank, let’s get on with our interview. Why don’t you tell us about the book you live in.
Frank (bewildered): Ha bu?
Drucilla (speaking as slowly as Frank did): Yes, tell … us … about … the … book … you … came … from.
Frank (shaking his head): Ah kun fambu?
Dora: I’ve got it!
Drucilla (waving her feelers): Do you want to give it to the rest of us?
Dora: He’s asking if he’s from a book.
Drucilla: He doesn’t know that? (Turning to Frank) Excuse me. Did you just ask us if you came from a book?
Frank: Yuh.
Drucilla: Yes, you do. All of my guests come from books. Do you see this? (She holds up an ancient copy of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Dalton was relieved she had pulled the right book out from under her throne.) You are in this book. (She opens it up and holds it under Frank’s nose.) Just read this part.
Frank (leans back in his chair): A’kn’reed.
Drucilla: You can read?
Frank: Nah.
Drucilla: You cannot read?
Frank shook his head sadly.
Drucilla: Dalton, he can’t …
Dalton shook his head in sympathy.
Drucilla: That man Stein never taught you how to read?
Frank: Na, ah mastu.
Drucilla: Ah mastu?
Dora (whispering): Your Majesty.
Drucilla: What, Dora?
Dora: That’s what he is saying.
Drucilla: He’s calling me “your Majesty?”
Frank: Yuh, ah um.
In that moment, the monster transformed into Drucilla’s friend.
Drucilla: So, Frank, let me get this right. A man named Frank N. Stein made you. Then he only called you “Monster” and never taught you how to read? What about arithmetic?
Frank shook his head.
Drucilla (under her breath): If I ever get my hands on that little son of a …
Dalton’s feelers were waving wildly.
Drucilla: Yes, right. Ah, Frank? I have heard enough. Tell me something. If you had the chance to learn how to read, would you do it?
Frank: Yuh.
Drucilla: Well, we have an excellent teacher here. If you would do us the honor of being our guest for the next few months, we will have you reading in no time.
Frank was so overwhelmed by her kindness, he crushed Drucilla in his arms and cried a river of tears on her head. Drucilla was too busy fighting for breath to notice the horrified expressions of the bees of court. By the time Frank released the queen from his grasp, the court resembled a choir of angels.
Dalton shook hands with Frank and offered to escort him to his sleeping chamber. On his way out, he whispered his praise to the queen.
Dalton: Sometimes, your royal Highness makes me very proud of the book we live in.
The queen only stared at them silently as they exited her chamber. When they had disappeared, she slumped down on her throne.
Drucilla (mumbling to herself): We live in a book?
End of Interview
