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&