For anyone who didn't see David Letterman's take on this: 
(And it's a true story...) 

On a recent weekend in Atlantic City, a woman won a 
bucketful of quarters at a slot machine.  She took a 
break from the slots for dinner with her husband in the 
hotel dining room.  But first she wanted to stash the 
quarters in her room.  "I'll be right back and we'll go 
to eat," she told her husband and carried the coin-laden 
bucket to the elevator. 

As she was about to walk into the elevator she noticed 
two men already aboard.  Both were black.  One of them was 
tall ... very tall ... an intimidating figure.  The woman 
froze.  Her first thought was: These two are going to rob 
me.  Her next thought was: Don't be a bigot; they look 
like perfectly nice gentlemen.  But racial stereotypes 
are powerful and fear immobilized her. 

She stood and stared at the two men.  She felt anxious, 
flustered and ashamed.  She hoped they didn't read her 
mind but Gosh; they had to know what she was thinking!!! 
Her hesitation about joining them in the elevator was 
all too obvious now.  Her face was flushed.  She couldn't 
just stand there, so with a mighty effort of will she 
picked up one foot and stepped forward and followed with 
the other foot and was on the elevator.  Avoiding eye 
contact, she turned around stiffly and faced the 
elevator doors as they closed.  A second passed, and then 
another second, and then another.  Her fear increased! 
The elevator didn't move. Panic consumed her.  My God, 
she thought, I'm trapped and about to be robbed! 

Her heart plummeted.  Perspiration poured from every 
pore.  Then one of the men said, "Hit the floor." 
Instinct told her to do what they told her.  The bucket 
of quarters flew upwards as she threw out her arms and 
dove to the elevator floor.  A shower of coins 
rained down on her.  Take my money and spare ! me, she prayed. 

More seconds passed.  She heard one of the men say 
politely, "Ma'am, if you'll just tell us what floor 
you're going to, we'll push the button."  The one who 
said it had a little trouble getting the words out.  He 
was trying mightily to hold in a belly laugh.  The woman 
lifted her head and looked up at the two men.  They 
reached down to help her up.  Confused, she struggled to 
her feet.  "When I told my friend here to hit the 
floor," said the average sized one, "I meant that he 
should hit the elevator button for our floor.  I didn't 
mean for you to actually hit the floor, ma'am." 

He spoke genially.  He bit his lip.  It was obvious he was 
having a hard time not laughing.  The woman thought: My 
God, what a spectacle I've made of myself.  She was 
humiliated to speak.  She wanted to blurt out an apology, 
but words failed her.  How do you apologize to two 
perfectly respectable gentlemen for behaving as though 
they were going to rob you?  She didn't know what to say. 
The three of them gathered up the strewn quarters and 
refilled her bucket. 

When the elevator arrived at her floor they then 
insisted on walking her to her room.  She seemed a little 
unsteady on her feet, and they were afraid she might not 
make it down the corridor. 

At her door they bid her a good evening.  As she slipped 
into her room she could hear them roaring with laughter 
as they walked back to the elevator.  The woman brushed 
herself off.  She pulled herself together and went 
downstairs for dinner with her husband. 

The next morning flowers were delivered to her room 
- a dozen roses. 

Attached to EACH rose was a crisp one hundred dollar 
bill.  The card said: "Thanks for the best laugh we've 
had in years."  It was signed; 
Eddie Murphy, Michael Jordan 

PS - This was too funny not to send to you.  Pass this 
around so others can enjoy.