Grandad Arthur loves his granddaughter Estelle, but he never expected to end up in her ballet class! This heartwarming and hilarious story follows a grandfather's whimsical dream where he swaps rugby for a pink tutu. It’s a delightful tale about family, laughter, and the silly things that happen when we close our eyes at night.
Grandad Arthur and Granny sit together on their cozy sofa, watching a video of their granddaughter Estelle performing a beautiful ballet dance. They smile with pride as the glow of the television fills the room with warmth.
Later that night, Grandad Arthur drifts into a deep sleep, his head resting comfortably on a soft pillow. In his mind, he travels across the sea to London to visit Estelle’s bustling ballet school.
Grandad finds himself sitting on a small wooden bench right next to Estelle and a row of young dancers in pink tutus. He looks quite out of place in his sensible sweater, but he is happy to be there to support her.
The elegant French ballet teacher points her finger at Grandad and insists that he join the lesson immediately. She says S'il vous plaît with a flourish, leaving him no choice but to stand up and follow her lead.
Grandad Arthur looks nervous and thinks to himself that he would much rather be at home watching a rugby match on TV. He tries to explain that dancing isn't really his style, but the teacher simply smiles and waves him forward.
In the blink of an eye, Grandad is suddenly dressed in a fluffy pink tutu and tight white leggings. He looks in the mirror and sees a very funny-looking ballerina staring back at him, feeling both confused and silly.
When the teacher commands the class to point their toes, Grandad tries his very best to follow the instructions. Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through his big toe, making him let out a loud Ouch that echoes through the studio.
The teacher circles around him, noting that while he lacks a bun on his bald head, his effort is what truly matters. Grandad blushes as he tries to perform a graceful pirouette in the middle of the studio floor.
Grandad Arthur suddenly wakes up in his own bed, gasping as he realizes the dancing adventure was just a vivid dream. He looks down and sees his big toe poking through a fresh hole in the bedsheet, wiggling in the cool air.
Granny laughs heartily as Grandad tells her about his tutu-wearing nightmare, and she gives his toe a playful wiggle. She jokes that next time he goes to London in his dreams, he should tell the teacher he has gout.
Grandad does Ballet HELEEN OOSTHUIZEN Illustrations: Esther Boshoff 13 For Morgan and Jamie Grandad Does Ballet Published by African Sun Media under the SUN ReAD imprint Place of publication: Stellenbosch, South Africa All rights reserved Copyright © 2025 African Sun Media and Heleen Oosthuizen The author and the publisher have made every effort to obtain permission for and acknowledge the use of copyrighted material. Refer all enquiries to the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, pho tographic or mechanical means, including photocopying and recording on record, tape or laser disk, on microfilm, via the Internet, by email, or by any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission by the publisher. Views reflected in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Second edition 2025 ISBN 978-0-906928-14-1 ISBN 978-0-906928-15-8 (eBook) Cover design and production by African Sun Media SUN ReAD is an imprint of African Sun Media. Our publications can be ordered from: orders@africansunmedia.co.za Takealot: bit.ly/2monsfl Google Books: bit.ly/2k1Uilm africansunmedia.store.it.si (eBooks) Amazon: amzn.to/2ktL.pkL JSTOR: https://bit.ly/3udc057 Granny thought Grandpa’s dream to be quite a giggle. She gave his big toe a wiggle… and said, “You should have spelt it explicitly out, ‘Si’l vous pláit’, dear teacher, I suffer from gout.” Visit africansunmedia.co.za for more information. 12 Imagine what a big joke it would be. A grandad in a tutu for all to see! Granny’s Letter Constantia Cliff Roodepoort 1709 14 March Dear Estelle, We were so proud after we watched the video of your ballet concert, thank you for sending it to us. Grandad and I wish we could have been there. We watched the video last night before bedtime and guess what? This morning grandad told me about a dream he had. It was a very funny dream, but I think it was more of a nightmare! Let Granny tell you about it... Grandad does Ballet Asked Granny, Grandad dreamt when he was visiting London, he went with Estelle to her ballet class. He was keen to go and watch and see how she danced and how pretty she looked. In his dream, when he got to the ballet class, he had to sit in the row next to Estelle and the other girls. “What’s the matter my dear?” “Nothing,” said Grandad, ”just a dream, do not fear. One I would rather forget, or not tell you about just yet.” Grandpa then awoke, only to find a hole in the sheet, and out came his big toe to give him a greet …“OUCH”… 9 2 Grandad was not so sure about this. Thinking by himself… “I’ll give it a miss. Dancing is not for me...! I’d rather watch rugby on TV.” When Teacher insisted, “give it a go now, …POINT!” He got a terrible pain in his big toe’s joint. ...“OUCH”… Luckily for him, no bun in his hair, there was too little top just here and there! But before Grandad could disappear, the French ballet teacher said: “Now Grandad, listen here, We want you, to ballet too,” “Si’l vous plait.” * * see-voo-play (meaning ‘please’) “No, no,” said Grandad, “no play for me! A ballerina I don’t want to be!” But before there was a moment to care… Grandad had a tutu on, shoes and tights… beware!
