The Wittling Bench

The time was an earlier yesterday middle town America back in an earlier yesteryear a time when life moved so much slower neighbors helped neighbors and people had time to chat there was a time when you could find it there probably tucked back under the storefront awning in front of some old rural country store just an old slab wood whittling bench where each day; weather permitting a few senior gentlemen gathered about no captains of industry these but each armed with his favorite whittling knife; honed to a keen edge; wood in hand a place where stories were swapped; off color joke exchanged talk was of weather, crop prices, politics or latest news of the day strong opinions expressed; arguments vigorously make as small wood chips were the only product of the day the scene played out year upon year and with time with a notch cut here; a few chips carved there the old whittling bench was slowly carved away