For the Cashier Who Made Me Totally Speechless – I Salute You
It was a Sunday morning, and I felt grumpy enough, topping off my mother's vehicle. The location was a typical gas station that operates as a supermarket, which often leads of ending up in line people bearing baskets of somewhat expensive items. A terrible fate to happen when all you want is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.
I was fourth among those waiting. A single person serving, a young woman. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for his Viakal, his pastry, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier tell him to have a great day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was an ally in the war on delays, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down straightforward customers like me.
Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The new leader of our group finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone those exact words, or merely a pleasant day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find US citizens visiting this town, and definitely not working in petrol stations or anywhere else.
Second in line at last. Following a senior shopper dealing with a lengthy struggle with her basket, her groceries, her purse and her rewards card. This took an eternity. Once completed, 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 to her, to see if she did that reaction when they look at you, without a smile, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” But I couldn’t think of a jest to say.
In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a mimicry of sincerity, which amounts to the same thing – while she stared directly into my eyes, deep into my soul, and told me to have a great day. I felt better for it. It was a good thing.
