MARIA'S FOLLY

It was a beautiful sunny day. The sun was shining in the clear blue sky and a gentle breeze was blowing. All the flowers were looking radiant in their splendid hues. It was a perfect day to go to the beach. Maria's mother packed a picnic basket with fruits, juice, ham and tomato sandwiches, delicious cheese and a pound cake. After preparing the basket, Maria and her parents took their swimsuits and headed off in their car to the beach.

On reaching the beach, Maria's family found a nice spot on the beach and spread out their blanket. Mother took out a book and began reading it while Maria and her father jumped straight into the water. The water was clear blue and sparkling and just the right temperature. After splashing around in the water for a while Maria got out and decided to dry off. She saw a man taking little children on pony back and decided that she wanted to go as well. Maria asked her parent's permission and her parents thought that the pony looked quite harmless, so they let Maria go off on her own.

Maria had never ridden a pony before and she was quite nervous. She climbed onto the pony very slowly and unsteadily, but once on the pony's back, Maria felt quite safe and sturdy. She pretended to look confident and she told the man handling the pony that she was capable of dealing with the pony alone and that she did not require his help. Maria got the pony to walk a little and then the pony broke out into a soft canter. Even though she had been warned not to let the pony gallop, Maria ignored that warning and made the pony trot faster and faster till the pony had now reached a steady gallop on the beach. With the pony going so fast, it was difficult to control him and at the same time, dodge all the other picnickers on the beach. After a little while Maria got quite scared and started screaming and yelling out loud for help. Her hands were floating in the air, when the pony suddenly jerked and through her violently into the air. Maria was trying to wonder in mid-air where she might fall when suddenly she fell flat into a blanket, which had just been laid with scrumptious food.

When she came to her sense and looked around, Maria realised that her parents were looking straight into her eyes with great concern and she had landed on her own lunch. That was the end of the lunch anyway. Most if it had been squashed flat when Maria landed into it and some had been strewn aside into the sand. That was the end of Maria and her picnic at the beach. It was her own folly that her actions demanded.