For the Store Clerk That Made Me Completely Wordless – I Salute You
It was a Sunday morning, and I felt sufficiently irritable, filling up my mum’s car. It was a common fuel stop that operates as a supermarket, so you run the risk of ending up in line people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to happen when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Awful.
I was fourth among those waiting. Just one person serving, a young woman. There was something unusual about her. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had completed payment for his purchases, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, I was certain I heard the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and was being sarcastic. I wondered if she might actually be a supporter in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down people just getting gas like me.
I moved up, now third in line. The person ahead of our group completed her gasoline purchase with commendable speed. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? At this location? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person tells people those exact words, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. You don’t get people from America frequenting this area, least of all employed at gas stations or anywhere else.
Now I stood second. After an elderly lady dealing with a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her food items, her handbag and her loyalty card. This took an eternity. After she finished, she as well got told an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to check for that thing their typical stare, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of a jest to utter.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, that equates to no different – with which she looked directly into my eyes, to my very core, and bid me an awesome day. I felt better for it. Beneficial indeed.
