Pass That Dutch

     The dating rituals have changed from what they were. One continuous topic for debate is who is supposed to pay. Who pays on a date?


     I am very modern, but my core still holds old fashioned principles. On a date, I believe a man should pay. I can take myself out. I refuse to believe I'm not worth a movie ticket or a plate of food. Also, what if his company is terrible and I've paid my own way? I've paid for a bad time. No thanks. I remember, I was on a date once and a guy waited until the bill came to say something about splitting it. He said nothing about it before hand.


    "Do you want to go Dutch," he said looking at the bill.


    "No, thanks. I'm American," I quipped.


     "I mean, splitting the bill," he said looking up.


     "I know. Still no."


     "Oh," he replied.


     I think it goes without saying, I never talked to him again. Good riddance to bad garbage. He asked me out. What kind of gentleman does that?


     My freshman year of college, I was at a restaurant with a date on Valentine's Day when this topic arose in a most unsavory way. After the bill was paid, my date asked what I was doing after dinner. I told him I could hang out a little longer but I had an early class. When I asked why he asked, his response floored me.


     "Well, I just paid for all this food. So you know..."


    "Excuse me? !"


     "I'm just saying. This restaurant isn't cheap."


     I confess, he wore my cosmopolitan home on his nice light blue shirt. I didn't typically throw drinks, but he deserved it. He was not being a gentleman.


     Though dating protocol changes as the wind blows, it all depends on what you're comfortable with. Even in nature, most male animals of various species can't mate unless they provide shelter and food for the female and her future offspring. Aren't I superior to an animal?