Addressing the Checkout Assistant Who Left Me Completely Wordless – I Salute You
The scene was a Sunday morning, and I was in a foul mood, topping off the family car. This was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a supermarket, so you run the risk of waiting behind people bearing baskets of pricey provisions. It's an awful situation to occur when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. Just one employee working, a female attendant. There was something unusual about her. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier wish him to have a great day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I pondered if perhaps she was an ally in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for those who delay people just getting gas like me.
Taking a step forward, now third in line. The next shopper of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and few locals wishes anyone a wonderful day, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.
Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper dealing with a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her purchases, her handbag and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. When she was done, the woman also received the wish an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by cracking a joke to her, to see if she did that reaction their typical stare, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter.
Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as no different – as she gazed straight at me, deep into my soul, and told me an awesome day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.
