For the Cashier That Made Me Absolutely Without Words – I Salute You

It was a day of rest, and I felt sufficiently irritable, filling up the family car. The location was one of those petrol stations that operates as a convenience store, meaning there's a chance of waiting behind shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to happen when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Terrible.

Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. Just one cashier operating, a female attendant. There was something unusual about her. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had finally paid for his Viakal, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I wondered if perhaps she was an ally in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for people who hold up people just getting gas including me.

Advancing next, to third in the queue. The new leader of our group finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “Have a wonderful day.” No, actually, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone those exact words, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.

I was second now. After an elderly lady embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her groceries, her purse and her membership pass. It went on for ever. Once completed, she too got told a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to check for that thing when they look at you, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to express.

In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, that equates to identical in effect – as she gazed directly into my eyes, piercingly, and wished me an awesome day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.