Chapter 1 - The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse is a short story by William Saroyan. It is a story of two Armenian boys, Aram and Mourad, who live in a small village in California and come across a beautiful white horse. The story revolves around their adventure with the horse and their efforts to keep it safe.

Summary of the Story
The story is set in a small village in California during the summer. Two Armenian boys, Aram and Mourad, decide to explore the surroundings on their bicycles. While they are on their way, they come across a beautiful white horse tied to a post. They are captivated by the horse's beauty and decide to take it for a ride. After a few attempts, they manage to free the horse, and it runs away. The boys are worried that they will get into trouble for stealing the horse, so they decide to hide it in a deserted vineyard. They take care of the horse and feed it, but one day they hear that the horse's owner has been looking for it. The boys get scared and decide to return the horse. They take the horse to its owner, and he rewards them by letting them ride it.

Short Questions and Answers
1. Who are the main characters in the story?
The main characters in the story are Aram and Mourad, two Armenian boys.

2. Where is the story set?
The story is set in a small village in California.

3. What do Aram and Mourad find on their way?
They find a beautiful white horse tied to a post.

4. What do the boys do with the horse?
They take the horse for a ride, after managing to free it.

5. Why do the boys hide the horse?
They hide the horse because they are afraid that they will get into trouble for stealing it.

Long Questions and Answers
1. What is the significance of the white horse in the story?
The white horse symbolizes freedom and beauty. It represents the boys' desire for adventure and their longing for something better than their mundane lives in the village. The horse is also a reflection of the boys' innocence and their willingness to take risks.

2. What is the role of the setting in the story?
The setting plays a significant role in the story. The small village in California is a reflection of the boys' simple lives and their desire to break free from it. The deserted vineyard where they hide the horse is a symbol of the boys' isolation and their fear of getting caught. The setting also adds to the overall atmosphere of the story, creating a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time.

3. What is the theme of the story?
The theme of the story is the loss of innocence and the desire for adventure. The story portrays the boys' longing for something bigger and better than their mundane lives in the village. It also highlights the consequences of taking risks and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions.

In conclusion, The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse is a simple yet powerful story that captures the essence of childhood innocence and the desire for adventure. The story's setting, characters, and themes come together to create a memorable reading experience.

The story opens with Mourad coming to Aram’s house at four in the morning one fine day. He tapped on the window to Aram’s room. When Aram looked out of the window, he was taken aback and startled to see Mourad riding a beautiful white horse. In fact, he was so dazed that Mourad had to say “Yes, it’s a horse. You are not dreaming.” All this was too unbelievable because Aram knew that they were too poor to be able to afford to buy a horse. The only way Mourad could possess it could be by stealing. They were too honest to lie and yet too crazy to ride a horse.

Thus, they kept the horse for two weeks, enjoying its ride in cool air and singing to their heart’s content on the country roads. They hid it from the rest of the world by keeping it in a barn of the deserted vineyard. Meanwhile, Aram came to know that the horse was stolen from John Byro. They planned not to return it to him so soon although it pricked their conscience to steal, which was completely their ethics and tribal norms.

One fine day they came across John, the farmer. Such was the boys’ family famous for their honesty that the thought of his horse being stolen by the boys never crossed John’s mind. He was just amazed at the resemblance and said: “I would swear it is my horse if I did not know your parents.” This moving experience led the boys towards John’s vineyard the very next morning. They left the horse in the barn after patting it affectionately. Later that Based on day, John seemed to be very pleased and shared the news of the return of his horse with Aram’s mother. The story teaches us the importance and necessity of honesty even in the face of greed and passion