To the Store Clerk Who Left Me Completely Without Words – My Hat's Off to You
It was a weekend morning, and I was sufficiently irritable, filling up my mum’s car. It was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue customers carrying goods of somewhat expensive items. A terrible fate to occur when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.
Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. A single employee working, a young woman. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. When the faffer at the head of the line had at last settled for his Viakal, his pastry, and some breakfast items, I could have sworn I heard the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she might actually be a supporter in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up straightforward customers including me.
I moved up, now third in line. The person ahead of the queue finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” No, actually, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here tells people those exact words, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find many Americans knocking around Stourbridge, and definitely not employed at gas stations or anywhere else.
Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her basket, her purchases, her handbag and her rewards card. It went on for ever. Once completed, she as well received the wish to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. Confirming it was possible by saying something hilarious in her direction, to check for that thing their typical stare, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter.
In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as the same thing – with which she looked directly into my eyes, piercingly, and told me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.
