Itrynottobebiased(偏见)butIhadmydoubtsabouthiringStevie.Hissocialworkerassuredmethathewouldbeagoodreliablebusboy.ButIhadneverhadamentallyhandicappedemployee.Hewasshortalittlefatwiththesmooth
Itrynottobebiased(偏见)butIhadmydoubtsabouthiringStevie.Hissocialworkerassuredmethathewouldbeagoodreliablebusboy.ButIhadneverhadamentallyhandicappedemployee.Hewasshortalittlefatwiththesmoothfacialfeaturesandthick-toguedspeechofDown’sSyndrome(唐氏综合症).IthoughtmostofmycustomerswouldbeuncomfortablearoundSteviesoIcloselywatchedhimforthefirstfewweeks.
Ishouldn’thaveworried.AfterthefirstweekSteviehadmystaffwrappedaroundhisstubbylittlefingerandwithinamonthmyregulartruckercustomershadadoptedhimastheirofficialtruckstopmascot.AfterthatIreallydidn'tcarewhattherestofthecustomersthoughtofhim.Hewaslikea21-year-oldinbluejeansandNikeseagertolaughandeagertopleasebutfierceinhisattentiontohisduties.EverysaltandpeppershakerwasexactlyinitsplacenotabreadcrumborcoffeespillwasvisiblewhenSteviegotdonewiththetable.Ouronlyproblemwaspersuadinghimtowaittocleanatableuntilafterthecustomerswerefinished.
Overtimewelearnedthathelivedwithhismotherawidowwhowasdisabled.MoneywastightandwhatIpaidhimwasprobablythedifferencebetweenthembeingabletolivetogetherandSteviebeingsenttoagrouphome.
That'swhytherestaurantwasagloomyplacethatmorninglastAugustthefirstmorninginthreeyearsthatSteviemissedwork.HewasattheMayoClinicinRochestergettingaheartsurgery.HissocialworkersaidthatpeoplewithDownsSyndromeoftenhadheartproblemsatanearlyageandtherewasagoodchancehewouldcomethroughthesurgeryingoodshapeandbebackatworkinafewmonths.
Arippleofexcitementranthroughthestafflaterthatmorningwhenwordcamethathewasoutofsurgeryinrecoveryanddoingfine.Franniemyheadwaitressdidalittledancewhensheheardthegoodnews.BelleRingeroneofourregulartruckercustomersstaredatherandasked“OkayFranniewhatwasthatallabout?”
"WejustgotwordthatStevieisoutofsurgeryandgoingtobeokay."
"Iwaswonderingwherehewas.Ihadanewjoketotellhim.Whatwasthesurgeryabout?"
FranniequicklytoldBelleRingerandtheothertwodriverssittingathisboothaboutStevie'ssurgerythensighed:"YeahI'mgladheisgoingtobeOK&