A Round for the House

Ever since seeing John Wayne buy a round for the house in “the Quiet Man” my generosity has wrestled with my frugality on making a similar gesture. Cheap won every time, until one day last year. Sitting at the bar in my favorite joint I noticed there were only three other patrons plus the bartender and each was of the female persuasion. Now I like women I even married one so in the spirit of comradeship and frugality i announced to the young lady behind the bar that I’d like to buy the house a round. To be sure she probably got few such requests and she seemed dubious asking me if I was joking. I suppose I should have given more explicit instructions because ii envisioned her announcing it and the ladies giving me a sincere round of applause. What happened was the bartender went to each of the customers and said in a low voice that the man at the end of the bar wantd to buy them a drink as if it was a prelude to luring them into the storage room. Only one accepted. An old woman who eyed me suspiciously but gave me a perky thank you! When I heeded for the exit. I guess its easier in the movies.