Addressing the Cashier That Left Me Totally Without Words – My Hat's Off to You
The scene was a weekend morning, and I was grumpy enough, filling up my mum’s car. The location was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a convenience store, which often leads of joining a queue customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. This is a dreadful thing to unfold when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Terrible.
My position was fourth in the queue. Just one cashier operating, a young woman. There was something unusual to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the first position had at last settled for his Viakal, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn overhearing the cashier bid him an excellent day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I pondered if she could even be a comrade in my battle with dithering, reflecting my irritation for people who hold up people just getting gas like me.
Advancing next, now third in line. The person ahead of our line discharged her fuel-only transaction with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. A stateside native? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and few locals says to others a wonderful day, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.
I was second now. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a protracted effort with her basket, her food items, her wallet and her rewards card. This took an eternity. After she finished, she too got told a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious in her direction, to see if she did that reaction as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to say.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, essentially the same as no different – as she gazed straight at me, deep into my soul, and bid me an awesome day. It improved my mood. It was a good thing.
