To the Checkout Assistant Who Made Me Absolutely Without Words – I Salute You
It was a day of rest, and I was grumpy enough, topping off the family car. It was one of those petrol stations that doubles as a convenience store, so you run the risk of ending up in line customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to happen when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.
I was fourth in the queue. Just one employee working, a youthful clerk. A peculiar quality to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had at last settled for a cleaning product, his pastry, and a carton of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Odd. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. I pondered if perhaps she was a supporter in the war on delays, echoing my disdain for those who delay people just getting gas including me.
Advancing next, to third in the queue. The next shopper of our line completed her gasoline purchase with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Have a wonderful day.” No, actually, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and few locals says to others those exact words, or simply a good day. Very rare. You don’t get many Americans frequenting this area, certainly not holding jobs in fueling spots or anywhere else.
Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a right old battle with her basket, her food items, her handbag and her membership pass. The process dragged on. After she finished, she too got told a wonderful day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by saying something hilarious to her, to observe that thing as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and state very earnestly: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of a jest to utter.
In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as the same thing – while she stared directly into my eyes, piercingly, and told me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.
