The Balloon Keeper
An illustrated story by Atlas & Ash · Slice of life · Watercolour · All ages · Turkish, English
Also in: Türkçe
On his last flight, Cappadocia's oldest balloon pilot hands the controls to his granddaughter.
For fifty years, Grandpa Rıza has flown balloons into the Cappadocian dawn. This morning his twelve-year-old granddaughter Elif is with him. He teaches her to listen to the wind and to work the flame gently, like taking a breath, and as the sun rises over the valleys, he hands the controls to Elif for the first time.
Characters
- Rıza Dede (Balloon pilot): Fifty years a balloon pilot over Cappadocia, and Elif's grandfather.
- Elif (Granddaughter): His twelve-year-old granddaughter on her first dawn flight.
Episode 1: Before Dawn
The balloon fills in the dark. Grandpa Rıza teaches Elif to listen to the wind, and the basket lifts off the ground.
Rıza Dede: Listen to the wind, Elif. Today it will tell us where to go.
Elif: It's blowing from the south, Grandpa!
Fifty years of the same sky every morning. But never the same journey.
Episode 2: Listening to the Wind
As the sun rises, the valleys lie beneath their feet. Grandpa Rıza hands the controls to Elif.
Elif: Grandpa, everything looks so small from here!
Rıza Dede: Your turn. Gently, like taking a breath.
Rıza Dede: The sky has found its new keeper.