To the Store Clerk That Left Me Absolutely Wordless – Kudos to You
It was a day of rest, and I was sufficiently irritable, refueling the family car. It was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to occur when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Terrible.
I was fourth in the waiting line. Just one cashier operating, a youthful clerk. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the first position had finally paid for his purchases, his pastry, and a carton of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier bid him an excellent day. Strange. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I wondered if perhaps she was a comrade in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for people who hold up simple fuel-buyers including me.
Advancing next, now third in line. The new leader of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? At this location? Her tone suggested it, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman engaged in a protracted effort with her basket, her groceries, her handbag and her loyalty card. This took an eternity. When she was done, the woman also was wished an excellent day. Clearly an American. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to see if she did that response when they look at you, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” 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, piercingly, and wished me to have a great day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.
