To the Cashier That Made Me Completely Wordless – I Salute You
It was a day of rest, and I felt sufficiently irritable, filling up my mum’s car. The location was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a supermarket, so you run the risk of joining a queue customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to unfold when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.
My position was fourth in the queue. There was only person serving, a youthful clerk. There was something unusual about her. When the faffer at the head of the line had completed payment for his purchases, his sausage roll, and some breakfast items, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she could even be a comrade in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down simple fuel-buyers including me.
I moved up, now third in line. The person ahead of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Very rare. It's uncommon to find many Americans frequenting this area, certainly not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.
Second in line at last. After an elderly lady dealing with a protracted effort with her carryall, her purchases, her wallet and her rewards card. This took an eternity. When she was done, she as well was wished an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke in her direction, to see if she did that reaction as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to utter.
I just had to settle the genuine warmth – or an impersonation of it, essentially the same as no different – with which she looked me right in the eye, piercingly, and wished me a wonderful day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.
