To the Checkout Assistant Who Made Me Completely Without Words – I Salute You
The scene was a weekend morning, and I felt grumpy enough, filling up my mum’s car. This was one of those petrol stations that operates as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue customers carrying goods of somewhat expensive items. This is a dreadful thing to occur when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. A single person serving, a young woman. Something stood out to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and was being sarcastic. The thought crossed my mind if she might actually be a comrade in my battle with dithering, reflecting my irritation for those who delay straightforward customers like me.
Advancing next, to third in the queue. The new leader of our group finished pumping gas with commendable speed. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone those exact words, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. Rarely does one encounter people from America frequenting this area, certainly not holding jobs in fueling spots or other places.
I was second now. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a right old battle with her basket, her food items, her wallet and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also got told to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke to her, to observe that thing as they gaze at you, stoically, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of a funny comment to say.
In the end, I embraced the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, that equates to identical in effect – with which she looked straight at me, deep into my soul, and wished me an awesome day. It improved my mood. It was a good thing.
