Single Jingle

 Men, during pub off times in the day, can be found sitting alone, draped over their favorite beer and reading material, while a woman doing the same thing would be thought of as unladylike. Or worse. Why? It is okay for a gaggle of giggling gals to enter a pub for refreshment and perhaps a guy, but for a single woman it is verboten.  Current day mores, while reputed to have freed women from these sorts of prejudices, continue to foster them. I am no avid drinker but I would love to go into a bar or pub alone on a hot day to enjoy a cold draft or a tall spritzer without guilt. I don't do it because it "simply isn't done" and even if it were, chances are a male in the same place might think I am there just waiting for him to come over and hand me a line. So what does a thirsty woman do? A friend of mine hides behind a book. A book is a very useful item especially one with a large title that engages conversation: "I see you are reading Blank. What is your opinion?" or just "What's that you're reading?". The latter is simple and clean. The answer is either a precis or a short, "None of your business" and/or as my author friend offers, a cold "I am reading" glare. Men alone who want to find male companionship, do it in pubs. They are onto the "Wadjathink of..." in relation to a sport or "Shitty stock market, eh?" and that seals the deal. From that time on every time they see each other and go through the "Howareyuhtuday?" routine, they sit together like they've been pals since Grade One.  Easy. Women? It works differently, if you can find another woman in a pub alone, that is.  If you try a line, "I see you are alone, may I sit with you", it could lead to a suspicion that you are lesbian or rude, therefore, you can try some comment about the lady's outfit or hairstyle such as "Who does your hair?" or " I love your jacket. Where did you get it?" Appearance comment always work best.  (Too bad men don't use that approach more often. Unfortunately for them, they don't have the background to hold it together for long in a conversation.) I guess my hope is that more women DO sit in a pub alone even if their closest companion is only a book. We women alone have to start somewhere.