by William Engelman

Created on: August 01, 2009

Gen(d)elman

The little black binder from the server hit the table with a familiar thud. My date and I at the time had a moment's pause of breath to acknowledge that the bill for this evening's meal had indeed arrived. Without hesitation I reached for my wallet and pulled out my Visa. I took a quick glance at the bill; only to act like I knew what should be on their and that everything was in order, slipped my card nicely into the little compartment at the top. After the server came by and grabbed the binder I started thinking to myself, why it became so instinctual for me just to grab my card and expect to pay?

I noticed my little darling sitting in her white A line blouse and tight designer jeans didn't even make a motion for her purse. My date just simply stared and smiled without a care in the world obviously feeling this evening was going very well, good news for me I guess even though I am seventy dollars lighter in the pocket book and that doesn't include the tip.

The more I thought about it, the more I noticed my surroundings at this fine little Italian Restaurant. Guys and girls practicing the dance of courting, the commonality of the guy pays seeming more evident at every table I was staring at. In fact it was just something that seemed unspoken. There was another couple that just received their bill and I observed how that unfolded, same thing, man chuckles, female chuckles, man grabs wallet and puts cash in the binder, all is well in the universe. It actually surprised me to see that everyone seems to conform to his or her gender role when the bill comes due.

When the server came back with the binder, there where two carbon copies of paper, one for me and one for him that had a dotted line that said tip. So what did I do, I looked adoringly into my dates eyes and said, Why don't you leave a tip.

For twenty seconds or what seemed like a millennium this brunette starlet stared at me long and hard. I think she was processing what I had just said, maybe questioning whether she heard what I said right, either way she had a look that made me feel like I was about to become infertile for the rest of my life. I then did what most guys would do when faced with a fight or flight situation quickly say I'm just joking, and laugh to put her back at ease. When it comes to a women scorned most guys will quietly choose to rebel from their gender roles and politely play dead.

After that chain of events resumed

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