To the Checkout Assistant Who Made Me Completely Speechless – My Hat's Off to You
The scene was a day of rest, and I felt grumpy enough, filling up my mother's vehicle. This 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. A terrible fate to happen when all you want is to complete a simple refueling. Awful.
I was fourth in the queue. There was only employee working, a youthful clerk. Something stood out in her demeanor. After the ditherer at the head of the line had at last settled for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I was certain I heard the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she might actually be a supporter in my battle with dithering, reflecting my irritation for those who delay people just getting gas like me.
Advancing next, now third in line. The next shopper of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with commendable speed. And there it was again: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person tells people those exact words, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. You don’t get many Americans knocking around Stourbridge, and definitely not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman engaged in a protracted effort with her basket, her food items, her purse and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. When she was done, she too was wished an excellent day. Definitely from the US. Confirming it was possible by making a witty remark in her direction, to observe that reaction when they look at you, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to utter.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, that equates to the same thing – while she stared me right in the eye, to my very core, and told me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. It was a good thing.
