MARK TWAIN

AJO JACOBKIRAN JOY

AJMAL KHANAMALJITH M.S.

NAVANEETH R.M.

TEAM MARK TWAIN MEMBERS

SKIES ARE NOT SO HIGH

A DOG NAMED DUKEBy WILLIAM D ELLIS

ABOUT THE AUTHORWilliam D. Ellis was born in Concord, Massachusetts. He began writing at the age of 12, at the urging of an elementary school teacher who early on discerned his talent . Ellis’s study of the history of Ohio provided him material that he eventually used as the foundation for a trilogy of novels : Bounty Lands, Jonathan Blair : Bounty Lands Lawyer, and The Brooks Legend. Each of his novel appeared on best-seller lists, and the trilogy itself eventually earned its author a Pulitzer Prize nomination. The most important recurring theme in his works is the triumph of survival.

INTRODUCTIONThis is the story of the dog named Duke and how he nursed his master Charles Chuck Hooper. Charles Hooper , a six-foot-one man, was a man of competitive nature. He was already a hard-charging zone sales manager of a chemical company. He was enjoying a successful life.

ABOUT THE DOG DUKEDoberman Pinscher

Duke was a rough playing Doberman Pinscher , four years old , 23 kilos. His coat was red with a light brown vest.

CHARLES MET WITH AN ACCIDENTWhen he was driving home one autumn twilight, a car pulled out in front of him without warning. Hooper was taken to the hospital with a subdural haemorrhage in the motor section of the brain, completely paralysing his left side. One of Chuck’s district manager drove his wife Marcy to the hospital. Charles could only breathe and see, and his vision was double.

CHARLES AFTER THE HOSPITAL STAYHooper remained critical for a month. The company asked him to take a year off. They would create a desk job for him at the company headquarters. He was put in a wheel chair. Chuck Hooper was given physiotherapy but he didn’t show much progress. While at home chuck felt very low when his wife Marcy quietly went work.

DUKE ARRIVES HOME Their dog duke was brought home. Chuck said that he

wanted to be standing when duke came in. He men him stood him up. When duke came he charged into a missile of joy by springing on his master Chuck Hooper. Hooper could hardily keep his balance from that movement duke took up his position near Chuck's bed and never jumped on him.

CHUCK AND DUKE Chuck could not feel cheered up even after

Duke’s arrival. Marcy felt it and cried at Chuck’s predicament. He continued looking all around at ceiling, outside and then at Duke. But Duke could not take it for long. He would go to Chuck and look at him posing many question . But Chuck asked him to just sit there.

CHUCK TIES TO STAND UP EGGED BY DUKE One evening Chuck hooked the leash onto Duke’s collar with

his good hand. Duke moved u-shaped and pranced imbalancing Chuck. Chuck fought for balance. He placed the leash in his left hand with his good hand and folded the paralyzed finger over it. Then he leaned forward with Marcy supporting him by the elbow, he moved his right leg out in front.

CHUCK COLLAPSES IN THE ARMCHAIR When he straightened his right leg his left

foot dragged forward with his right foot. It could be called a step. Duke feeling the sudden slack, pulled the leash taut. Chuck controlled himself from falling and straightened up. But he collapsed into the wheelchair.

CHUCK TAKES FOUR STEPS Next day the Duke started early, jabbed his

nose under Chuck’s elbow charging to his good side. Chuck’s arm reached for the leash and he stood up with Duke’s tugging the leash, Chuck took four steps that day.

CHUCK REACHES THE FRONT PORCH ON HIS OWN

Leaning back against the pull , Chuck learned to keep his balance without Marcy to support him. Taking steps and increasing them day by day, they reached the front porch.

CHUCK TREMENDOUS PROGRESS TO BE ON HIS OWN

By mid April neighbours saw a daily struggle of Chuck and Duke pull his leash , stand and wait . Chuck would drag himself abreast of the dog. Then Duke would walk upto the end of the leash and wait for Chuck. Very soon Chuck was able to walk. When Marcy told the doctor about Chuck’s progress , he prescribed a course of physiotherapy with weights , pulleys and whirlpool baths. Soon Duke and Chuck would make two trips a day .Duke would no longer wait for Chuck at each step.

CHUCK READY TO WORK On January 4, Chuck walked 200 meters from the

clinic to his company’s local branch office. The staff was amazed at Chuck’s progress. The manager asked Chuck to be on work. Chuck demanded an empty desk and a dictating machine. He set his objective of working full day on March 1.

DUKE AS A REAL HUMAN SUPPORTER AND CHUCK’S PROMOTION

After March 1 Chuck didn’t need physiotherapy. He turned to Duke who pulled him along the street increasing his stability and endurance . Sometimes Chuck would trip and fall but Duke would wait for him as if he knew that his job was to take care of his master. Thirteen months after this moment, Chuck was promoted to regional manager.

CHUCK, DUKE AND MARCY IN NEW HOME In March 1956 Chuck, Marcy and Duke

moved to their new house. The neighbours didn’t know the story of Duke and Chuck. All they knew was that Chuck walked like a mechanical giant and the dog pulled him as if he owned him.

DUKE DIESOn the evening of October 12,1957, Duke had had an accident. Marcy took up Duke to the animal hospital . He was attended properly but died as his injuries were very severe. Chuck’s neighbour saw Chuck walk alone. They wondered if Chuck would go alone and how far.

A TRIBUTE TO DUKE THROUGH CHUCK A few week ago Chuck received an order

from his company as if a special tribute to Duke. Chuck stood appointed as Assistant National Sales manager of his company.

THANK YOU