To the Cashier That Left Me Absolutely Wordless – I Salute You
The scene was a weekend morning, and I was grumpy enough, filling up the family car. This was a common fuel stop that operates as a convenience store, which often leads of waiting behind shoppers with carts of somewhat expensive items. A terrible fate to happen when the sole aim is to get gasoline and leave. Dreadful.
I was fourth among those waiting. A single cashier operating, a female attendant. A peculiar quality to her presence. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for his purchases, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, It seemed to me I heard the cashier tell him a wonderful day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and was being sarcastic. I pondered if she might actually be an ally in my fight against faff, reflecting my irritation for individuals slowing down people just getting gas including me.
I moved up, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our line completed her gasoline purchase with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person wishes anyone those exact words, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find many Americans knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or anywhere else.
I was second now. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a right old battle with her shopping cart, her food items, her purse and her rewards card. The process dragged on. Once completed, she as well received the wish a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by saying something hilarious to her, to check for that reaction their typical stare, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to say.
In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as no different – while she stared straight at me, piercingly, and bid me a wonderful day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.
