A driver walks into the dish pit, steaming. Man, that customer up front, he says. Walked funny, talked funny. Ordered an "Eks-Ell Hand-Tossed Build-Your-Own Pizza with no additional toppings" instead of an "extra large cheese". Didn't make eye contact during the whole ordeal. Said "thank you" after a little too long a pause, with a stunted little wave. At this last complaint, one of the men at the sink piped up, barely turning:
"Oh, that guy, with the hat, right? Yeah, I think he's autistic or something."
Instantly the first driver's face softened. You could see it in real time, how he was scrolling back through his memory, re-evaluating every moment. Somehow this one little word, one that didn't really supply any new information, changed everything.
"Yeah, I suppose."
That little word made another's differences no less intelligible, but more tenable.