Conversation in a pub

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'Reincarnation!' he said

'Come again?' I said

'Exactly' he said

'What do you mean?' I said

'Well, stands to reason, dunnit. There's only so much stuff in the world... matter, atoms... all that stuff must just get recycled. Obvious.' he said

'You mean when we die we all go to that great recycling plant in the sky?' I said.

'I suppose you could say that.' he said

Just then the barmaid came up.

'You two gents want another drink? Only he don't like customers standing at the bar with empty glasses.'

'That's a poor attitude towards one's clientele.' I said. 'No wonder this pub's always empty.'

'Well don't tell me - I'm only the bleedin' barmaid.' she said.

'What do you think about reincarnation, Phyllis.' He said.

'Well, I know the concept has been embedded in Hindu religion and culture for a more than a thousand years, and it does act as a force for social cohesion. I mean the caste system, which allows for the progression to a higher social status in the next life, depending upon one's conduct or behaviour in this life. It does, of course, have its critics, particularly here in the West, where we see it as a form of social control.
I, myself, tend towards this view.

'Two pints of lager'. he said. 'And have one yourself.

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I like pubs. I suppose you call them bars in America.

They are places anyone can go - you don't have to be a member - and you can feel among friends, even if you don't speak to anybody.

More on this later.