🔗 Share this article

It was a Sunday morning, and I felt sufficiently irritable, topping off the family car. This was a common fuel stop that also functions as a convenience store, meaning there's a chance of ending up in line people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to occur when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.

My position was fourth in the queue. A single person serving, a young woman. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for his Viakal, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier wish him to have a great day. Strange. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she might actually be a supporter in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down straightforward customers like me.

Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The person ahead of our group finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or other places.

Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her food items, her handbag and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. After she finished, she too received the wish a wonderful day. Clearly an American. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke at the cashier, to check for that reaction as they gaze at you, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a jest to utter.

Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, that equates to no different – while she stared directly into my eyes, deep into my soul, and bid me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.