‘We are as busy as bees here already, Billie,’ her mum says. She jiggles Noah up and down to stop him crying. Then she leaves to give him his dinner.

‘Mum obviously doesn’t care about saving the planet,’ Billie huffs. ‘I know! The school should get a beehive.’

‘Good idea!’ says Sara. ‘My dad can help. He knows how to look after bees.’

‘This is the best idea ever,’ Billie says. ‘Let’s go next door and tell Jack.’

Billie and Sara run out to the backyard. They climb into Jack’s garden.

‘Jack! Jack!’ Billie yells.

Jack comes to the back door.

‘Sara and I have the best idea for Ms Walton,’ Billie says.

‘We should get a beehive at school!’

Jack frowns. His face turns very red. ‘That’s a stupid idea!’ he says. ‘We don’t need bees at school.’

‘We need to save the bees, Jack!’ Billie says. ‘Why are you so scared of bees anyway? Sara says they won’t hurt you.’

‘Bees are horrible!’ Jack yells. ‘And I’m not scared of them, OK? I don’t want to be in your group anyway!’ He runs back into his house.

‘What’s up with him?’ Sara says.

‘I have no idea,’ Billie says. ‘But he doesn’t have to be so rude.’

‘Come on,’ says Sara. She puts her arm around Billie’s shoulder. ‘My mum will be here soon.’

They walk back to Billie’s house. Billie feels her tummy bubble with anger. What is going on with Jack? she thinks.

Can you guess?

That night, Billie’s dad tucks her into bed. Billie tells him how rude Jack was. ‘I don’t know if I can be friends with him anymore,’ she says, frowning.

‘Oh, Billie,’ her dad says. ‘Jack is allergic to bees. He was stung once when he was little. He had to spend three days in hospital. No wonder he’s scared of them.’

‘Oh no! Poor Jack!’ Billie says. She sits up suddenly.

‘But why didn’t he just tell me? I’m his best friend!’

‘Well, maybe he didn’t feel like your best friend today?’ Billie’s dad says. ‘After all, you seemed very busy with the new girl. Maybe Jack isn’t just scared of bees. Maybe he’s scared you don’t want to be his friend anymore?’

‘Oh dear,’ says Billie. ‘You’re right. I haven’t been a good friend today. I didn’t even notice how scared he was. Maybe he won’t want to be my friend anymore?’

Billie’s dad kisses her forehead. ‘Don’t worry, Billie,’ he says. ‘You’ll find a way to make things right.You always do.’

Billie lies in the dark and worries. Worries always feel much bigger in the dark. But Billie B Brown is lots of things. She is brave. She is brilliant. She is bold. Billie B Brown may not know how to save the planet yet. But she does know how to save a friendship.