🔗 Share this article

This occurred on a day of rest, and I found myself in a foul mood, topping off my mum’s car. This was a typical gas station that operates as a convenience store, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to occur when your only desire is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.

I was fourth in the queue. Just one person serving, a young woman. There was something unusual to her presence. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for his purchases, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, I was certain I heard the cashier tell him an excellent day. Strange. Maybe it was a mistake, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if perhaps she was a supporter in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for people who hold up straightforward customers such as myself.

Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The new leader of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. A stateside native? Here in Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone those exact words, or merely a pleasant day. Very rare. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, least of all working in petrol stations or elsewhere.

I was second now. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her purchases, her purse and her rewards card. It went on for ever. After she finished, the woman also received the wish an excellent day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark in her direction, to see if she did that thing their typical stare, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a jest to say.

I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, that equates to identical in effect – with which she looked straight at me, to my very core, and told me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.