For the Checkout Assistant Who Left Me Completely Without Words – My Hat's Off to You

It was a day of rest, and I felt in a foul mood, filling up the family car. It was a common fuel stop that doubles as a grocery store, which often leads of ending up in line people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to occur when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.

My position was fourth in the waiting line. A single employee working, a young woman. A peculiar quality about her. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for a cleaning product, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier wish him an excellent day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was a comrade in the war on delays, reflecting my irritation for those who delay simple fuel-buyers such as myself.

Taking a step forward, becoming the third customer. The new leader of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with impressive quickness. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and no British person tells people such a cheerful phrase, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find many Americans knocking around Stourbridge, least of all working in petrol stations or anywhere else.

Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her purchases, her purse and her membership pass. This took an eternity. After she finished, she as well was wished to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by saying something hilarious to her, to check for that thing when they look at you, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to say.

Ultimately, I accepted the genuine warmth – or an impersonation of it, which amounts to no different – while she stared directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.