XCVIII. Michael. February 4, 2022

>driving Lyft

>I am called to the VA to pick up Michael

>he calls me again before I get there

>says to come right up front and he will be standing there

>so I pull up to the VA and there is a guy standing there

>I say “Hey, are you Michael?”

>guy says “Yeah, I’m Michael, are you the Uber?”

>I am indeed the Uber

>off we go

>guy says “I’m glad you got here. I was about to walk down the hill and wait for the bus. This is for you.”

>he hands me a clear plastic bag with money in it.

>the plastic bag has “$12.50” written on it

>I say thanks, because that’s a hell of a tip

>guy says “I need you to take me to Dunwoody Street”

>”Wow,” I say, “The GPS is WAY off. It’s got me going up Thomasville Road”

>my phone rings

>on the other end is a guy claiming to be Michael

>he says I drove right past him and left him standing at the VA

>I say this is difficult to believe

>since Michael is in my backseat

>the caller insists he is the correct Michael

>so I apologize and head back

>I say “Man, what are the odds? Two guys named Michael waiting for Lyfts at the same time?”

>Guy says “then can I have my money back, boss?”

>the bag is returned

>when we get back to the VA, my correct Michael is standing there

>My passenger gets out and says “Hey Michael, I’m Michael! I’m sorry about that!”

>The new Michael shakes his hand and says it’s okay

>we drive away

>as soon as we leave the parking lot, new-Michael says “That man name ain’t no Michael!

>”I know that old crackhead from down in the Villages, out here saying he Michael

>”stealing people’s Ubers,

>”needs his ass beat is what he needs”

>I tell Michael the story of previous Michael’s time in my car

>he tells me of previous Michael’s time in the Villages

>and soon we are both laughing

>when I drop him off, I promise Michael I will tell this story to everyone

>and get his name right