For the Store Clerk Who Made Me Absolutely Without Words – My Hat's Off to You

The scene was a Sunday morning, and I found myself grumpy enough, filling up my mum’s car. This was a common fuel stop that doubles as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue customers carrying goods of somewhat expensive items. It's an awful situation to happen when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.

My position was fourth in the queue. Just one cashier operating, a female attendant. There was something unusual in her demeanor. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for his purchases, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me I heard the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was a supporter in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down people just getting gas such as myself.

Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our line discharged her fuel-only transaction with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” To be precise, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? At this location? She had the accent, and no British person tells people a wonderful day, or merely a pleasant day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter many Americans knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.

Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her purchases, her wallet and her membership pass. It went on for ever. Once completed, the woman also got told to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke to her, to check for that reaction when they look at you, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That is quite humorous.” However, nothing occurred of a jest to utter.

In the end, I embraced the heartfelt tone – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as the same thing – with which she looked straight at me, piercingly, and wished me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.