The Mountain's Sudden Crisis

A strategy meant to improve Harold's view exposes him to a fall, and improvisation turns the drop into a balloon search.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Risk of Height

A Strategy for Seeing Height promises knowledge Harold believes that going higher will let him see farther and perhaps find his bedroom window. He makes a mountain to strengthen the viewpoint he thinks he needs. The goal carries a hazard The plan puts Harold in a setting where a misstep can become serious. His desire to orient himself motivates the climb, but the constructed mountain does not guarantee a safe or complete view.

The Mountain Ends

The Fall in Thin Air The expected ground is absent Harold slips while looking down over the other side. There is no other side of the mountain in the scene, so he falls through empty air. Search becomes survival The bedroom window and the original purpose of the climb cease to matter during the fall. Harold's immediate challenge is to keep himself from reaching the ground.

Aerial Escape

A Rescue in the Air Preserving composure Harold keeps his wits and his crayon, then draws a balloon and grabs on. The response is fast enough to interrupt the fall before it becomes fatal. Safety remains incomplete A basket lets Harold stand and enjoy a view, but he still cannot see a house. The crisis is resolved while the broader search for home continues.

After the picnic, as Harold raises the hill into a mountain

At the summit, when Harold looks over the edge

During the fall, as Harold draws a balloon