To the Checkout Assistant That Made Me Totally Wordless – I Salute You

This occurred on a Sunday morning, and I felt in a foul mood, topping off my mum’s car. This was one of those petrol stations that operates as a supermarket, so you run the risk of ending up in line customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to occur when your only desire is to complete a simple refueling. Terrible.

My position was fourth in the queue. Just one employee working, a female attendant. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for his purchases, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier bid him an excellent day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and was being sarcastic. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was a comrade in the war on delays, reflecting my irritation for people who hold up simple fuel-buyers such as myself.

Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The next shopper of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and no British person tells people a wonderful day, or merely a pleasant day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find people from America knocking around Stourbridge, least of all working in petrol stations or other places.

Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper dealing with a right old battle with her carryall, her groceries, her wallet and her membership pass. It went on for ever. After she finished, she too was wished an excellent day. Clearly an American. Confirming it was possible by making a witty remark in her direction, to see if she did that thing when they look at you, unsmilingly, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of a funny comment to express.

Ultimately, I accepted the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, essentially the same as the same thing – as she gazed directly into my eyes, piercingly, and wished me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.