Image: thanks to Louise at The Storytellers Abode
There wasn’t a lot that could be said about the Straws. They were a farming family at the end of the lane down beside our place.
Mr. Straw or Bales as he was known had served in the war and had returned with only one and a half arms. Most days you’d see him hanging over the fence talking anyone who wandered by. Some days if you were lucky he’d hand over a sunflower for that’s what the Straws grew and sold them to the local Sunflower Oil Company.
Bales despite his disability thought himself a pretty cool guy and always dressed snappily.
It was his slow talking manner that attracted the most attention. Where the rest of us spoke in a rapid fire way Bales was very slow talking in fact if you asked him a question you knew you needed a good thirty minutes for him to get out the answer. So on those days we took a picnic and a thermos.
Written for: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/fffaw-challenge-week-of-06-28-2016/
Morpethroad 
Hahahahaha! If you visit Bales (Mr. Straw), you need to take a picnic and a thermos because it will take most of the day. He sounds like a character. LOL! Cute story, Michael! I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you Joy, great photo to play with….
Yes it is! 🙂 I hope you are doing well Michael!
LOVE this!!!
Thank you Stella, hope you are well this evening…
Doin’ well, thanks–getting ready to schedule a post and then close up shop 🙂 Hope you are equally well 🙂
Yes doing well thanks
Great to hear 🙂
Haha. Mr Straws is like the resident listener or therapist. He sits there, you bring lunch and ask him stuff, and somehow, he helps one figure their problems out. Pretty good guy to have around 🙂
Yes indeed Mandi….have a good evening…
Oh this is lovely 😀
Ha ha – country slow 🙂
I think I’d like Bales–we’d get on well. My best friend of 40 years says she needs a picnic and thermos when we have a conversation 😀
That’s lovely Lyn, glad you could connect.
This is utterly charming. Bales …. Yes!!
This is a great feelgood story 🙂 lovely take on the prompt.
I really enjoyed reading this, has a lot of layers in my mind.
This is a feelgood story. I love the authentic charm and slowness as his life goes on.
Thank you Izzy, hope you are doing well today.
A lovely story, Michael. 🙂 A few hours listening to Bales whilst enjoying a picnic and thermos sounds like time well spent.
Thanks Louise, its a matter of having those hours to spend with him.
Very enjoyable story. Love you choice of names…:) Being around him would make a very relaxing and interesting day.
If you have the time Jessi.thanks for stopping by.
I love this, Michael, and the way you’ve told it in such a matter-of-act way. You’ve made Bales into an intriguing character in so few words.
Ha! I like how you make this out. Adding quite a character to Bales.
Thank you so much.