Addressing the Store Clerk Who Left Me Absolutely Wordless – My Hat's Off to You
It was a weekend morning, and I felt sufficiently irritable, filling up my mother's vehicle. This was a common fuel stop that doubles as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of waiting behind people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to occur when all you want is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.
My position was fourth among those waiting. There was only employee working, a youthful clerk. Something stood out in her demeanor. When the faffer at the head of the line had finally paid for his purchases, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and meant it ironically. The thought crossed my mind if she might actually be an ally in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for those who delay people just getting gas like me.
Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our line finished pumping gas with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? At this location? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person says to others such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Very rare. You don’t get many Americans knocking around Stourbridge, least of all employed at gas stations or other places.
Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman engaged in a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her groceries, her wallet and her rewards card. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also was wished an excellent day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke in her direction, to see if she did that response their typical stare, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a jest to say.
I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, which amounts to identical in effect – with which she looked me right in the eye, to my very core, and wished me an awesome day. It improved my mood. A positive experience.
