To the Checkout Assistant Who Made Me Completely Wordless – My Hat's Off to You
It was a weekend morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, filling up my mum’s car. It was a common fuel stop that doubles as a convenience store, so you run the risk of ending up in line people bearing baskets of somewhat expensive items. A terrible fate to happen when the sole aim is to get gasoline and leave. Terrible.
I was fourth in the queue. There was only cashier operating, a young woman. A peculiar quality about her. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had finally paid for his purchases, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I was certain overhearing the cashier tell him to have a great day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and meant it ironically. I wondered if perhaps she was an ally in my battle with dithering, reflecting my irritation for people who hold up straightforward customers like me.
Advancing next, now third in line. The next shopper of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and few locals says to others such a cheerful phrase, or even just a nice day. Very rare. You don’t get many Americans visiting this town, least of all holding jobs in fueling spots or anywhere else.
Second in line at last. After an elderly lady engaged in a right old battle with her basket, her groceries, her purse and her membership pass. The process dragged on. When she was done, the woman also was wished to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by making a witty remark at the cashier, to see if she did that thing when they look at you, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to express.
I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, that equates to identical in effect – with which she looked me right in the eye, to my very core, and bid me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. It was a good thing.
