Bella, Bella Dance for me

Bela, Bela Dance for me

Aunt Bella lives in Madelief Home for the Elderly. She is sitting in the cozy television room.

Aunt Bella is in a wheelchair. Matron threw her knee blanket that she had crocheted years ago over her skinny old legs. Now she sits like this, together with all the other old souls to watch television, before lunch.

The others watch anything channel, but not Aunt Bella, she can get so bored. Her mind is still clear and cannot handle monotony.

Today is a little different for her, she feels discouraged. She is sad and wants to cry. The almanac in her room has a red circle around today's date and that must mean something. Makes her remember something, but she doesn't know what it is. The date wants to ring a bell.

She hears behind her how busy reception is. "Probably all the children who come to visit their old people, but no one visits me."

She hadn't seen her son in such a long time. And not to mention her adorable granddaughter.

She looks around the room, her eye catches a painting. It's funny, she's never seen it on the wall. Probably someone who died; donation to the home.

A beautiful ballerina with a pink satin dress. She dances so beautifully and her little feet don't even touch the ground. Like a butterfly.

"Ballerina, ballerina, dance for me. I wish I was still young like you. I can't even walk, but my feet are itching to dance again. On that stage, the ballerina is me and not you."

Tears run from her small slit eyes, down her cheeks and drip onto her lap.

"And now the tears?" asked Matron.

Matron came to crouch by Aunt Bella's wheelchair and took her hands. Aunt Bella didn't answer. Matron takes her handkerchief from under her watch strap where she always keeps it and wipes away the tears.

"Auntie must stop crying now, because I have a surprise for you at the reception."

Matron stood up and turned Aunt Bella's wheelchair towards the door. Who will she see there?

"Grandma, Grandma Bella!" cried the little girl, swinging her pink ballerina dress.

She is wearing her pink ballet shoes with stockings. Pippi Longstock braids and big white bow on the head. There is a huge gift in her little hands.

She giggled. "Grandma Bella, Grandma Bella, I love you so much. Your birthday is today and here I am now. I'm coming to visit you and bring you this enormous gift, Grandma."

She grabbed her grandmother and kissed her on the cheek with a glittering mouth. She dropped the gift on her lap and tripped away.

"What a lovely surprise," said Bella.

Just when she wanted to continue talking with Bellatjie, her son walked into the room with his wife. He immediately squatted by his mother's wheelchair and took her hands in his.

"Mom, a very happy birthday to Mom and no we haven't forgotten. Bellatjie specially put on her ballet dress."

Bella smiled and caressed her son's cheek. He stood up and readied her wheelchair to go.

He smells his mother's familiar scent of Lux cookie soap and feels a deeply love with her.

"Mom, let's go eat a piece of cake in the dining room, everyone is already waiting there."

As he pushed her out of the room, Bella's eye caught the beautiful painting again. The dancing ballerina doll. She winked at her and indicated with her index finger how lucky she was to have family by her side today.

"Thank you ballerina, what a wonderful day."

The ballerina doll winks and bows to Bella.