By Mike Blackwell

Page 1
Curious Norman stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon.
“One mile deep,” the boy remembered.
He slowly pushed his foot over the rim.
“Be careful!” said Norman’s mother.

Page 2
Quickly he brought his foot from the edge.
It was hard for Norman to be careful!
He was an outdoors boy. He loved the sun and the sky.
Most of all, he loved the Grand Canyon!

Page 3
Norman knew all about the Grand Canyon.
He knew it was cut by the Colorado River.
And he knew it was one mile deep.

Page 4
He also knew something else.
He knew this would be a day he would never forget.
He was right.

Page 5
Today Norman and his family were riding donkeys to the floor of the canyon!
Norman ran ahead of his mother and father.
He could hardly wait to begin his ride!
Norman jumped on top of a dark gray donkey. His name was Jack.

Page 6
Jack was an old donkey. He had lived in the canyon for years.
All day long, day after day, he worked.
He slowly walked one mile down. He slowly walked one mile up.
All day long.

Page 7
Old gray Jack was worn and tired. His voice was not strong anymore.
His tail was dusty.
His wide ears flopped on the side of his head.

Page 8
Jack knew every trail of the Grand Canyon.
And though he was old, he still loved his work.
Every day, he woke up with bright, eager eyes.
Jack, like Norman, loved the Grand Canyon.

Page 9
Norman and Jack rode away.
Farther and farther away they rode.
Norman made Jack take a strange trail.
“I think I don’t like this,” said Jack, shaking his head.

Page 10
Norman made Jack go everywhere!
Past the rocks and cactus. Past snakes and lizards. They even past an eagles’ nest.
But now the sky above the canyon was growing dark.
“I think we are lost,” said Jack, shaking his head. “And I think I don’t like this.”

Page 11
Jack was afraid. This wasn’t a trail at all!
The ground was rocky, and the brush was thick.
The thorny brush scraped Norman’s arms and Jack’s legs.
The air was colder now.

Page 12
Jack was having trouble walking. He stepped as carefully as he could over the boulders.
It was almost dark. Jack and Norman were lost.

Page 13
Finally, the tired old donkey saw a clearing.
But there were rocks between Jack and the clearing.
He walked slowly. And carefully.

Page 14
His old feet suddenly became tangled in the rocks.
Now he was falling!
KER-SPLAT!

Page 15
Jack had never fallen before!
Norman landed on his hands and knees.
Jack and Norman slowly rose and limped to the clearing.
Jack, tired and old and hurt, laid down as the sun dropped below the ridge of the canyon.

Page 16
Norman began to cry.
“I think I don’t like this,” Jack said.
Night fell, and the air was cold.
“I want to go back,” Norman said.

Page 17
“It’s too dark,” Jack said. “And I’m too hurt. We’ll stay here for the night.”
Jack carried sleeping bags in his saddle.
And cans of food. And blankets.
Night came.

Page 18
Norman had never seen the sky so dark! The half-moon lit the canyon as far as he could see.
The boy shook against the cold.
“Lay against me,” Jack said. “I will try and keep you warm. And tomorrow
I will feel better.”

Page 19
Jack and Norman slept close. But they didn’t sleep much.
Sounds of the canyon echoed throughout the night.
The howls of the coyote were long and loud.
Finally, with his head on the old donkey’s belly, Norman fell asleep.

Page 20
Jack woke up with the sun, looked at his leg and shook his head.
“I think I don’t like this,” he said.
His leg was swollen. He was too hurt to walk.
Norman began to cry again.

Page 21
“You have to get help,” Jack said. “And you must do just as I say.”
Jack gave Norman directions to the top. Norman listened hard.
When tired old Jack finished talking, he fell asleep. Tears filled
Norman’s eyes as he looked up toward the ridge.
“One mile high,” Norman thought.

Page 22
Norman began his journey. He looked back at Jack.
The old gray donkey breathed heavily as he slept. Dust swirled on the ground with each breath.
Buzzards circled high above the canyon.

Page 23
Norman began his trip to the top. He followed Jack’s every instruction. Up and up he climbed.
Norman’s legs became heavy and weary.
When he looked down, he couldn’t see Jack.

Page 24
Slowly, Norman walked higher and higher.
The sun was high in the sky. the canyon was deep and wide and vast.
But Norman could not enjoy the scenery.
He had to find a doctor for Jack!

Page 25
Norman heard a voice above him.
“Nor-man! NORRRRRR-MAAAAAAN!”

Page 26
Norman’s heart raced. It was his mother! And his father!
“Here I am!” Norman said, running up the last few feet.

Page 27
Norman ran to his mother and father. They hugged him tightly.
“We have to get a doctor for Jack,” Norman said.
Quickly, Norman’s parents found a doctor in the crowd of people. They
moved slowly down the canyon toward Jack.

Page 28
This time, Norman stayed close to the others. They walked slowly toward Jack.
Norman jumped from his donkey and ran to Jack.
He threw his arms around the tired old donkey’s neck.
Jack was thirsty, and his leg was still swollen and sore.

Page 29
The doctor gave Jack some cool water. He looked at the donkey’s injured leg.
“You’ll be fine,” the doctor said. “But you need to rest a few more
days. We’ll bring you food and water every day. Just rest, Jack.”

Page 30
Norman hugged Jack one more time.
Soon Norman, his parents and the doctor reached the top of the Grand
Canyon. The boy looked down at where he had been.

Page 31
He thought of tired old Jack.
“One mile deep,” he remembered.