To the Store Clerk Who Made Me Absolutely Speechless – Kudos to You
It was a Sunday morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, topping off my mum’s car. This was a typical gas station that also functions as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of waiting behind people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to occur when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. There was only employee working, a female attendant. There was something unusual in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had at last settled for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I was certain overhearing the cashier bid him an excellent day. Odd. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. I pondered if perhaps she was a supporter in the war on delays, reflecting my irritation for those who delay simple fuel-buyers such as myself.
I moved up, now third in line. The person ahead of our group finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” To be precise, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and few locals tells people a wonderful day, or simply a good day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter many Americans frequenting this area, certainly not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.
I was second now. After an elderly lady embroiled in a protracted effort with her basket, her groceries, her purse and her rewards card. It went on for ever. When she was done, she too was wished to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious in her direction, to see if she did that thing as they gaze at you, without a smile, and say with absolute sincerity: “That’s really funny.” However, nothing occurred of anything hilarious to say.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, that equates to no different – as she gazed directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me a wonderful day. It improved my mood. A positive experience.