Addressing the Store Clerk Who Made Me Absolutely Wordless – Kudos to You
The scene was a weekend morning, and I was grumpy enough, topping off my mother's vehicle. This was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a supermarket, which often leads of ending up in line customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to occur when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Terrible.
My position was fourth among those waiting. There was only employee working, a youthful clerk. There was something unusual to her presence. After the ditherer at the first position had completed payment for his purchases, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier tell him to have a great day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she might actually be a comrade in my fight against faff, reflecting my irritation for those who delay straightforward customers including me.
I moved up, now third in line. The person ahead of the queue finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. Someone from the US? Here in Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person tells people those exact words, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. You don’t get US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, least of all holding jobs in fueling spots or elsewhere.
I was second now. After an elderly lady embroiled in a right old battle with her shopping cart, her food items, her handbag and her membership pass. This took an eternity. Once completed, the woman also received the wish a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. Confirming it was possible by making a witty remark in her direction, to check for that response as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to say.
Ultimately, I accepted the heartfelt tone – or an impersonation of it, that equates to no different – as she gazed me right in the eye, to my very core, and wished me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.
