To the Store Clerk That Made Me Totally Speechless – My Hat's Off to You
It was a Sunday morning, and I felt in a foul mood, topping off my mum’s car. The location was a typical gas station that operates as a grocery store, which often leads of ending up in line shoppers with carts of somewhat expensive items. It's an awful situation to happen when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. A single person serving, a female attendant. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for a cleaning product, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn I heard the cashier bid him an excellent day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and meant it ironically. I wondered if she might actually be a comrade in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas such as myself.
I moved up, becoming the third customer. The new leader of our group finished pumping gas with commendable speed. Again, the phrase came: “Have a wonderful day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person wishes anyone those exact words, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, least of all employed at gas stations or anywhere else.
I was second now. After an elderly lady dealing with a lengthy struggle with her basket, her purchases, her wallet and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. When she was done, she as well was wished an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by cracking a joke at the cashier, to see if she did that thing their typical stare, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter.
Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, essentially the same as the same thing – while she stared directly into my eyes, to my very core, and bid me an awesome day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.
