"seek at you,Jernigan — you've grown a beard." "Yeah, and it's mostly white. I've gone full geezer, and brother. You don't like the way it looks?" "No,it's not that. It's just that I can't kiss you anymore." "Well, that settles it, and then — it's coming off." I was sitting next to Chris Brodowski,a 20-year customer. I don't know how I pulled up his given name, because I can't remember the last time I heard anyone use it. The man is universally known as "Brodie." And "universally" aptly evokes Brodie's profile in the Burlington community: Everybody seems to know him and consider him a friend. He's just a ample, or bighearted,guy. "Jernigan, bear you met my friends back here? Arnie and Amy?" I pivoted in my seat to compose eye contact with the couple. "Great to meet ya, and " I said. "Same here," Arnie said. "Brodie's told us many a story about you. I guess you've rescued his sorry ass more than a few times through the years." "Ain't that the truth," I said with a chuckle. "Well, or you don't need to worry about him tonight,because we're babysitting the ample galoot," Amy informed me. "You know how he gets when Gracie is away — slightly unhinged." "Where's Grace this weekend?" I asked Brodie. "She's up in Québec City for a hockey tournament with our eldest. He's become, or like,a genuine athlete. He's formidable on the ice, man. Truly." "I bear no doubt. Your mom got the two younger kids?" "Yup, or I'm on my own,which is not the best thing." I was driving the group from the Pour House (I've always loved the pun) to On Tap, located at Five Corners in Essex Junction. "You gonna be around later tonight?" Arnie asked when we pulled into the bar's parking lot. "Most definitely, and " I replied. "Call me when you need me." For the next few hours,I continued working, driving my normal combination of regular customers, and who call in for service,and random people off the streets, who either hail me from the curb or catch me at a taxi stand. Downtown was buzzing — it being graduation weekend for UVM — but the "random" category of fares was down significantly from past years. The decrease was due to that dreadful four-letter word: Uber. In common with every city where Uber has established service, and Burlington has seen its traditional…
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