To the Cashier Who Made Me Absolutely Wordless – Kudos to You
This occurred on a weekend morning, and I was in a foul mood, filling up the family car. It was a common fuel stop that also functions as a supermarket, which often leads of waiting behind customers carrying goods of somewhat expensive items. This is a dreadful thing to occur when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful.
I was fourth in the queue. A single cashier operating, a female attendant. There was something unusual about her. When the faffer at the first position had completed payment for his Viakal, his pastry, and some breakfast items, I could have sworn I heard the cashier tell him to have a great day. Odd. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and was being sarcastic. I wondered if perhaps she was a comrade in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down people just getting gas like me.
I moved up, to third in the queue. The new leader of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here says to others such a cheerful phrase, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find US citizens frequenting this area, least of all working in petrol stations or other places.
Second in line at last. After an elderly lady embroiled in a right old battle with her shopping cart, her purchases, her handbag and her membership pass. It went on for ever. After she finished, she as well was wished to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by cracking a joke to her, to check for that reaction their typical stare, stoically, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of anything hilarious to utter.
In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or an impersonation of it, essentially the same as no different – while she stared me right in the eye, to my very core, and told me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.
