The Bee Emergency

The Bee Emergency

A Day in My Life as a Building Manager

It was a warm summer evening, and I had finally made it home after a long day. I had spent hours doing back-to-back make-readies for tomorrow’s move-ins, and all I wanted was a peaceful night. I had my iced coffee in one hand, music playing in the background, and I was silently hoping that—for once—there would be no emergencies tonight.

Then, the phone rang.

With a deep breath, I answered in my usual calm tone.
"Good evening, emergency line. Lily speaking. How can I assist you?"

A hesitant male voice came through the line.
"Hi… I have a bee in my room. Can you please come and kill it?"

I paused, glancing at the clock. I wasn’t sure if I had heard him correctly.

"A bee, sir?" I repeated, just to be sure.

"Yes," he confirmed. "It’s flying around, and I just—I really don’t do well with bees. I don’t know what to do."

Now, I’ve handled plenty of emergencies: power outages, burst pipes, tenants locked out in questionable attire… but a single bee? That was a first.

I smiled to myself, adjusting my tone to be as reassuring as possible.
"I completely understand—bees can be a little intimidating. But the good news is, you’re bigger, and you have the advantage. Try grabbing a magazine or a cup and gently guiding it toward the open air. The best thing you can do is open your balcony door wide and give it a clear exit. If that feels like too much, just step out for a few minutes—it will likely find its way out on its own."

A long pause. Then, hesitantly:
"So… you’re not coming?"

"I believe in you," I said warmly. "You’ve got this."

Another pause. Then, in a quieter voice:
"Okay… I’ll try."

The line went dead.

I sipped my iced coffee, leaned back, and smiled. Just another day in property management—where no emergency is too big, too small, or too… buzzy.