To the Cashier That Left Me Totally Wordless – I Salute You

The scene was a day of rest, and I was grumpy enough, filling up the family car. This was a common fuel stop that also functions as a convenience store, so you run the risk of ending up in line shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to unfold when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful.

I was fourth in the queue. There was only cashier operating, a youthful clerk. Something stood out about her. Once the slowpoke at the first position had at last settled for his purchases, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me I heard the cashier bid him an excellent day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe she did say it and meant it ironically. I wondered if she might actually be a supporter in the war on delays, reflecting my irritation for people who hold up people just getting gas including me.

I moved up, to third in the queue. The person ahead of the queue finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Have a wonderful day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or merely a pleasant day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not employed at gas stations or anywhere else.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a protracted effort with her carryall, her food items, her handbag and her rewards card. It went on for ever. When she was done, she too received the wish a wonderful day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by making a witty remark to her, to check for that reaction when they look at you, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” But I couldn’t think of anything hilarious to express.

I just had to settle the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, essentially the same as the same thing – with which she looked straight at me, piercingly, and bid me to have a great day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.