Part One, Mountain, Valley, Sky Summary and Analysis

In "Knocking on Heaven's Door," Anne is waiting for a plane to leave St. Louis. The plane trip is set against her memory of a "miracle" in her church. She says a gay man named Ken Nelson is dying of AIDs when he joins her church. A woman named Ranola, who was raised to believe Ken's lifestyle—and Ken himself—were an abomination, finally reaches out to him and they stand side-by-side with Ranoloa supporting Ken when he cannot stand. Anne says she believes that moment of connection was a miracle. At the airport, Anne is among a group of passengers who forced to wait for the opportunity to board the plane. When they do, they wait on the plane for another hour. Finally, they begin the taxi down the runway...