The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

Summary
The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse is narrated by nine-year-old
Aram Garoghlanian, a member of an Armenian community living among the
lush fruit orchards and vineyards of California. One morning Aram is
awakened before dawn by his older cousin Mourad, who is thought to be
demented by everyone except Aram and has a way with animals. Aram is
astonished to see that Mourad is sitting on a beautiful white horse. Aram has
always wanted to ride a horse, but his family is too poor to afford one.
However, the Garoghlanian family is noted not only for its poverty but also
for its honesty, so it is unthinkable that Mourad would have stolen the horse.
So, Aram felt that his brother couldnt have stolen the horse. Aram was
invited to ride on the horse with Mourad. Then the idea about Mourad
stealing the horse drained away from Arams mind as he felt that it wouldnt
become stealing until they offer to sell the horse. They enjoyed their riding
on the horse for a long time. Mourad roared and sang songs with joy. It was
as if they were somewhere out of this world. This crazy behaviour of Mourad
was considered to be a natural descent from their uncle Khosrove even
though his father, Zorab was a practical man. Uncle Khosrove was an
enormous man who was always furious, impatient, and irritable. He would
roar and stop everyone from talking and saying it is no harm, pay no
attention to it. When his son once came and told them that their house was
on fire, he silenced him by roaring Enough. It is no harm. After a long time
Mourad wanted to ride alone on the horse. Aram also had the same longing
and also wished to ride alone. However, when he sat on the horse and kicked
its muscles it reared and snorted and raced forward dropping Aram off its
back. That afternoon, an Assyrian farmer named John Byro, who was a friend
of the Garoghlanians came to Arams house. He reported to Arams mother
that his white horse which had been stolen a month ago was still missing.
Hearing this Aram concludes that Mourad must have had the horse for a long
time. Khosrove, who was at Arams house when Byro came, shouted his
dialogue its no harm to such an extent that Byro was forced to sprint out
to avoid responding.
Aram ran to Mourad to inform him of Byros arrival. Aram also pleads to
Mourad to not return the horse until the former could learn to ride. Mourad
disagrees saying that Aram would take at least a year to learn but promises
he would keep it for six months. And this becomes a routine. Mourad comes
daily to pick Aram to ride and Aram continuously falls off the horses back
after every attempt. Two weeks later when they were going to take the horse
back to its hiding place, they met Byro on the way. The farmer is extremely
surprised. He recognizes his horse but refuses to believe his eyes. He says
the horse is the twin of my horse and a suspicious man would believe his
eyes instead of his heart. Thus the Garoghlanians fame of honesty saves
them.

The following day they return the horse before everyone (except the dogs) is
awake. None of the dogs bark since Mourad has a way with dogs. Mourad
gets extremely sentimental when he parts with the horse. The next day Byro
arrives at Arams house to show the horse to his mother and report that the
horse is stronger and better tempered. The story ends with Khosrove
shouting at Byro to pay no attention to it.