To the Checkout Assistant Who Made Me Absolutely Speechless – I Salute You
The scene was a Sunday morning, and I found myself in a foul mood, topping off my mum’s car. It was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a convenience store, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue people bearing baskets of pricey provisions. It's an awful situation to occur when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Awful.
Fourth in line I stood in the waiting line. There was only person serving, a young woman. There was something unusual to her presence. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had completed payment for his Viakal, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn I heard the cashier wish him to have a great day. Unusual. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and meant it ironically. I wondered if perhaps she was an ally in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up straightforward customers such as myself.
I moved up, now third in line. The next shopper of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” To be precise, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or merely a pleasant day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter US citizens frequenting this area, least of all holding jobs in fueling spots or other places.
Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a right old battle with her shopping cart, her groceries, her wallet and her loyalty card. It went on for ever. After she finished, the woman also received the wish to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke to her, to observe that reaction when they look at you, stoically, and say with absolute sincerity: “That is quite humorous.” However, nothing occurred of a jest to say.
I just had to settle the heartfelt tone – or a mimicry of sincerity, that equates to identical in effect – with which she looked directly into my eyes, deep into my soul, and wished me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.
