Croquet of the Lawn

One fine summer day, some of the girls put on their best summer dresses and hats, both old and new, and held a lawn party.  They had a light luncheon of cucumber sandwiches, tea biscuits, a chocolate and cream cake roll, and lemonade.  They were dying to try out their brand new croquet set which Santa Claus had brought them.  Choosing colors, taking up their mallets, the game got underway.  

 

It was amazing that six girls, who always shared, were unfailingly kind and polite to each other, the very best of friends, could turn into cut-throat, vicious, no-holds-barred croquet players!  Early on, Liesel had the chance to knock Clarice’s ball as far as she could, and showed the poor girl no mercy!  Clarice’s ball ended up so far away she was essentially out of the game!   

Katherine Alyse, less aggressive than some, held cucumber sandwiches more often than her mallet.  

Samantha tried her best, as she always does, but had trouble controlling where and how fast her ball would go.  Nellie, sitting in the shade with lemonade, waiting for her turn, had to pull up her feet, and almost spilled her drink as Samantha’s ball hurtled off the playing field and under her feet!  “I’m just no good at games,” sighed Samantha. 

Julia was playing quite deftly, and was all lined up for an easy victory, but (was it over-confidence?) missed what should have been an easy shot!  Samantha, who, with luck, might have come in second, managed to surprise even herself, and came in first!  

Julia was a close second, Liesel third, and poor little Clarice a distant last!  And when it was over, there were no hard feelings, and all was love and harmony again!  Another wonderful day for the girls!