To the Store Clerk That Left Me Absolutely Wordless – Kudos to You
This occurred on a weekend morning, and I was sufficiently irritable, filling up my mum’s car. It was a common fuel stop that operates as a grocery store, so you run the risk of joining a queue people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to happen when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.
Fourth in line I stood in the waiting line. There was only person serving, a youthful clerk. Something stood out in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for his Viakal, his pastry, and a carton of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier tell him an excellent day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I wondered if she might actually be a supporter in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for those who delay simple fuel-buyers such as myself.
I moved up, to third in the queue. The new leader of our line finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. Once more it happened: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “have a wonderful day”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here says to others a wonderful day, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. Rarely does one encounter people from America frequenting this area, and definitely not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper dealing with a right old battle with her carryall, her purchases, her purse and her loyalty card. This took an eternity. When she was done, she too was wished an excellent day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke at the cashier, to check for that reaction when they look at you, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of anything hilarious to express.
Ultimately, I accepted the genuine warmth – or an impersonation of it, which amounts to identical in effect – with which she looked straight at me, piercingly, and told me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.
