Addressing the Store Clerk Who Made Me Absolutely Without Words – Kudos to You
It was a Sunday morning, and I found myself grumpy enough, topping off the family car. This was a common fuel stop that also functions as a grocery store, which often leads of ending up in line customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to unfold when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Terrible.
Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. A single person serving, a youthful clerk. A peculiar quality to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had at last settled for a cleaning product, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or perhaps she spoke and meant it ironically. I wondered if she could even be a comrade in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas including me.
I moved up, to third in the queue. The next shopper of our group finished pumping gas with commendable speed. Once more it happened: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person wishes anyone those exact words, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, and definitely not holding jobs in fueling spots or elsewhere.
Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a right old battle with her basket, her groceries, her wallet and her membership pass. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also was wished a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by making a witty remark in her direction, to check for that thing their typical stare, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter.
Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, that equates to the same thing – while she stared straight at me, to my very core, and wished me a wonderful day. It improved my mood. A positive experience.
