To the Cashier Who Made Me Absolutely Speechless – My Hat's Off to You
It was a day of rest, and I was sufficiently irritable, filling up the family car. This was a typical gas station that operates as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of somewhat expensive items. It's an awful situation to happen when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. A single person serving, a youthful clerk. Something stood out about her. When the faffer at the head of the line had completed payment for a cleaning product, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, I could have sworn I heard the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she could even be a supporter in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for those who delay straightforward customers like me.
Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The new leader of our group completed her gasoline purchase with commendable speed. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and few locals says to others such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. Rarely does one encounter US citizens visiting this town, certainly not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Second in line at last. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a protracted effort with her shopping cart, her purchases, her wallet and her membership pass. It went on for ever. Once completed, she too received the wish to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious in her direction, to check for that thing as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “That’s really funny.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to express.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, that equates to no different – while she stared me right in the eye, piercingly, and wished me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.
