Facing Forever

one block in a graphic story; also known as a frame

I’m coloring in each panel of the comic book I’m making so I have a better idea of how it will look when it’s finished. 

an outline of the edge of a panel

I like to leave space between my comic panels so I have room to write notes under the border.

a circle or oval containing the words a character is saying

To help show that my character was really surprised, I made the text in their speech bubble stand out!

Maggie: . . . it’s a ghost!

Mom: Poor thing, he’s limping. 

Dad: He must belong to another camper. 

Nate: But no one else is camping here.

Maggie: I’m going to name him Boo—after Grandpa Lou!

Maggie: Oh! Sorry, Nate!

Dad: It’s OK, Maggie. Your brother just needs some time alone.

Narrator: The next day . . .

Mom: Want to talk? 

Nate: Maybe later. I’m going to check out the forest and see if I can find out where Boo lives.

Mom: Be careful! There’s no telling what’s out there.

Nate: Ouch! I cut my foot. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea . . .

Nate: Boo! Is this your home? My grandpa would have loved this place . . .

Boo: WOOF

Nate: You’re not limping anymore!

Nate: My cut is gone . . . How did that happen? 

Narrator: A few days later . . .

Maggie: Can we take Boo home to Maryland with us?

Dad: Maybe.

Mom: We’ll see what the vet says first.

Vet: This dog seems healthy. I think he’s about 5 years old—

Vet: — but this tag was registered to a dog named Roscoe in 1947.

Dad: That would make Boo more than 70 years old! It must be wrong.

Vet: Someone probably put Roscoe’s collar on Boo.

Mom: Or maybe he’s been drinking from the Fountain of Youth to stay young and healthy!

Nate (thinking): My cut! Boo’s foot!

Narrator: Back at the campsite . . .

Nate: Dad, we can’t keep Boo after all.

Maggie: But you said—

Dad: Nate, are you sure?

Nate: Yes. We have to leave him here where he belongs.

Nate: Go home!

Nate: Get out of here!

Dad: Nathan is right. We can’t take Boo.

Maggie: But we’re his family! He keeps coming back to us!

Nate (thinking): Maggie doesn’t understand . . .

Narrator: A few hours later . . .

Nate (thinking): The water in the woods is keeping Boo alive! If we take him with us, he’ll die someday.

Nate (thinking): Just like Grandpa.

Grandpa: Don’t look so sad, Nate. I’m ready to go. 

Grandpa: I had a long life filled with love and family. What more could I ask for? 

Nate (thinking): A long life filled with love and family . . .

Boo: WOOF

Nate: Boo?

Nate: Come on, Boo. Let’s go home.

Narrator: The End

• Humans have always been looking for ways to stay young. 
• Many cultures have stories about special water that makes people younger, heals their bodies, or keeps them alive forever.
• The Fountain of Youth is one of the most famous of these stories.

• The story involves Juan Ponce de León—an explorer from Europe. He came to North America in the 1500s.
• It says that Ponce de León learned about a magical spring from the Taíno people. (A spring is a source of water.)

• The Taíno are one of the Native peoples of the Caribbean islands. (Native means they are the people who originally lived there before other settlers arrived.) 
• They still live there today.

• The story says that he tried to find the Fountain of Youth.
• He landed near what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
• He claimed the area for Spain. But he never found the magical spring.

• History experts question whether Ponce de León ever actually looked for the Fountain of Youth. They say people might have made up the story to make him look silly.
• Today several places in Florida claim to be the famous spring. But none of these places have magical powers.
• What do you think? Could the Fountain of Youth be real?