Addressing the Cashier Who Made Me Absolutely Speechless – I Salute You
It was a Sunday morning, and I was grumpy enough, refueling my mum’s car. It was a typical gas station that also functions as a grocery store, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. It's an awful situation to occur when your only desire is to complete a simple refueling. Awful.
My position was fourth in the queue. A single employee working, a young woman. A peculiar quality to her presence. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had completed payment for his purchases, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier tell him an excellent day. Strange. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and was being sarcastic. I pondered if she could even be a comrade in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for those who delay straightforward customers like me.
I moved up, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and no British person wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. Rarely does one encounter many Americans visiting this town, and definitely not holding jobs in fueling spots or other places.
Second in line at last. After an elderly lady embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her purchases, her handbag and her loyalty card. It went on for ever. When she was done, she as well got told to have a fantastic day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by making a witty remark to her, to see if she did that reaction their typical stare, unsmilingly, and reply with genuine earnest: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to say.
In the end, I embraced the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, essentially the same as no different – while she stared directly into my eyes, piercingly, and told me to have a great day. It improved my mood. It was a good thing.
