Host:
Say, I was wondering what the "bump" is in "beer and a bump" when you stop by the Sidetrack Tap in Lake Wobegon? My kids and I listen to tapes of the stories when traveling in the car. We are guessing it's a shot of whiskey. I wish someone could validate or straighten us out on this one.

Thank you,
April

I think parents are supposed to lie to kids in a situation like this and say, "I don't know and I don't care," or say, "The beer is root beer and the bump is when you belch, you're supposed to stand back to back with your best friend and bump behinds and then waggle them back and forth as you turn counter-clockwise." But you're right, it's whiskey in a shot glass. The bartender pulls a glass of beer and sets it down and sets the shot glass down smartly next to it and then fills it almost to the brim with Jim Beam or some other non-fancy hooch and you hold the shot glass up and salute the bartender and you toss it down, chased by a swig of beer. I haven't done this for thirty years or so, but I remember the sensation. The burn in the throat and the warmth in the chest and then how good the cold beer tastes. One beer and one bump gives you a nice warm buzz and then you sit in the tavern with your pals and have a couple more beers and shoot the breeze and study any strangers who come in. Such as that woman and her kids who got out of their car and came in here. Who are they? Why are they watching us? Where are they traveling to? Hey, wait a minute! Did she just ask Wally what's in the shot glass? I cannot believe it!! Where is she from? Not from around here. Oh well, it takes all kinds.