For the Checkout Assistant That Made Me Completely Wordless – I Salute You
This occurred on a weekend morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, filling up the family car. It was a common fuel stop that also functions as a grocery store, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue customers carrying goods of somewhat expensive items. This is a dreadful thing to unfold when the sole aim is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.
I was fourth in the waiting line. Just one cashier operating, a female attendant. A peculiar quality about her. When the faffer at the first position had finally paid for his Viakal, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or perhaps she spoke and meant it ironically. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was an ally in the war on delays, echoing my disdain for people who hold up people just getting gas including me.
Taking a step forward, becoming the third customer. The person ahead of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and hardly anyone here tells people such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find US citizens frequenting this area, certainly not employed at gas stations or other places.
Now I stood second. After an elderly lady engaged in a right old battle with her carryall, her groceries, her handbag and her rewards card. The process dragged on. When she was done, the woman also received the wish to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by making a witty remark in her direction, to observe that thing their typical stare, unsmilingly, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” But I couldn’t think of a funny comment to express.
Ultimately, I accepted the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, which amounts to the same thing – as she gazed straight at me, piercingly, and told me a wonderful day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.
