To the Cashier That Made Me Absolutely Without Words – I Salute You
It was a weekend morning, and I was grumpy enough, filling up the family car. It was a common fuel stop that also functions as a supermarket, so you run the risk of waiting behind customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. This is a dreadful thing to occur when the sole aim is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. Just one employee working, a youthful clerk. There was something unusual in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the first position had at last settled for his Viakal, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, It seemed to me I heard the cashier wish him to have a great day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. I pondered if she might actually be a comrade in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for people who hold up people just getting gas like me.
I moved up, becoming the third customer. The next shopper of our line finished pumping gas with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? At this location? Her tone suggested it, and few locals says to others a wonderful day, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, least of all employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
I was second now. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her food items, her wallet and her membership pass. It went on for ever. After she finished, she too was wished to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by saying something hilarious to her, to see if she did that response their typical stare, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to express.
In the end, I embraced the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, essentially the same as no different – as she gazed straight at me, deep into my soul, and told me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.
