def read_string(stream, size):
    """
	
	Reads an encoded ASCII string value from a file-like object.
	
	:arg stream: the file-like object
	:arg size: the number of bytes to read and decode
	:type size: int
	:returns: the decoded ASCII string value
	:rtype: str
	
	"""
    value = ''
    if size > 0:
        value = stream.read(size)
        value = value.partition(chr(0))[0]
    return value
