For the Store Clerk Who Made Me Completely Without Words – I Salute You
It was a weekend morning, and I was in a foul mood, refueling my mum’s car. The location was a common fuel stop that also functions as a supermarket, which often leads of ending up in line people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to happen when the sole aim is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. A single cashier operating, a young woman. There was something unusual about her. When the faffer at the front of the queue had finally paid for a cleaning product, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I was certain I heard the cashier tell him a wonderful day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or possibly she uttered it and meant it ironically. The thought crossed my mind if she could even be a comrade in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for people who hold up straightforward customers such as myself.
Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The next shopper of our group finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? At this location? Her tone suggested it, and no British person says to others those exact words, or even just a nice day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter many Americans visiting this town, and definitely not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Now I stood second. After an elderly lady dealing with a protracted effort with her carryall, her groceries, her handbag and her loyalty card. This took an eternity. Once completed, the woman also got told a wonderful day. Clearly an American. Confirming it was possible by saying something hilarious at the cashier, to check for that response as they gaze at you, stoically, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a jest to express.
In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or an impersonation of it, essentially the same as the same thing – with which she looked straight at me, piercingly, and bid me to have a great day. It improved my mood. A positive experience.
