For the Checkout Assistant Who Left Me Absolutely Wordless – I Salute You
This occurred on a day of rest, and I was sufficiently irritable, topping off my mum’s car. This was a common fuel stop that doubles as a convenience store, which often leads of ending up in line customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. This is a dreadful thing to unfold when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood in the waiting line. A single employee working, a female attendant. Something stood out about her. After the ditherer at the head of the line had completed payment for his purchases, his pastry, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier tell him a wonderful day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she could even be an ally in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down straightforward customers including me.
I moved up, now third in line. The next shopper of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person says to others those exact words, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. You don’t get US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not employed at gas stations or other places.
Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a protracted effort with her shopping cart, her food items, her wallet and her rewards card. It went on for ever. After she finished, the woman also received the wish an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke to her, to check for that thing when they look at you, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of a jest to express.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, which amounts to no different – as she gazed me right in the eye, to my very core, and told me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.
