To the Checkout Assistant Who Made Me Absolutely Wordless – I Salute You
The scene was a Sunday morning, and I was sufficiently irritable, topping off my mother's vehicle. It was a common fuel stop that operates as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of somewhat expensive items. This is a dreadful thing to happen when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Awful.
Fourth in line I stood in the waiting line. A single person serving, a female attendant. A peculiar quality about her. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had at last settled for a cleaning product, his pastry, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier tell him to have a great day. Strange. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she could even be an ally in the war on delays, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down straightforward customers such as myself.
Advancing next, now third in line. The next shopper of our line discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “Have a wonderful day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person says to others such a cheerful phrase, or merely a pleasant day. Highly unusual. Rarely does one encounter US citizens visiting this town, certainly not employed at gas stations or anywhere else.
I was second now. After an elderly lady engaged in a protracted effort with her carryall, her purchases, her purse and her loyalty card. This took an eternity. Once completed, she as well received the wish to have a fantastic day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious to her, to check for that thing as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and state very earnestly: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to utter.
I just had to settle the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, that equates to identical in effect – while she stared straight at me, to my very core, and wished me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. It was a good thing.
