Character Study of Robert in Long Ago and Far Away

Howdy, I'm Robert Deaton and a frequent visitor to Sparks store.  You may want to know a little more about me since I'm appearing in my nephew's play, Long Ago and Far Away, Another Day at Sparks.

I’m 68 years old, born in December of 1948.  My parents lived up in a hollow not far from Sebastians Branch in Breathitt County, Kentucky.  I went to school in Breathitt County and graduated from high school there in 1966.  I went to work for the county as a surveyor in Jackson and spent my working days doing that until I retired a few years ago.

My travels have not taken me far from Breathitt and Perry Counties, as a matter of fact I don’t think I spent a night anywhere else except for the time I was in the Army.  

I joined in 1968 and wound up stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky for the duration of my time.  I was in the base maintenance crew doing surveying work for base construction projects.  I was honorably discharged in 1972 and came home to Breathitt County.  I continued to work for the county.

I married Martha Bolling on September 9, 1974 and we set up housekeeping in Jackson, where we lived until I retired in 2003.  We then moved to Perry County and bought a place outside of Buckhorn where we continue to live today.  We celebrated out 44th wedding anniversary this year.  We belong to the Buckhorn Presbyterian church and regularly attend services there.

We have two children, Mordecai and Ruth.  Both are now married and we have four grandchildren, two from each of our kids.  Mordecai works for the campground in grounds maintenance and Ruth is a nurse in Jackson at the Kentucky River Medical Center.  She took more to studying than Mordecai.

Nowadays I spend a lot of time at Sparks store in Buckhorn.  I go there to pass the time of day with people who come through.  The store is run by Fred.  Two other “regulars” there are a one-legged guy, named Dale, and an eccentric sort of fellow, named Cash.  There are others who float in and out from time to time.

The action takes place on a typical day at the store; it's about 2 PM on a day in June.