🔗 Share this article

This occurred on a Sunday morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, refueling my mum’s car. The location was a common fuel stop that doubles as a grocery store, which often leads of waiting behind people bearing baskets 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 in the queue. Just one cashier operating, a female attendant. Something stood out in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had finally paid for his purchases, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier tell him a wonderful day. Odd. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she could even be a supporter in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for those who delay simple fuel-buyers such as myself.

I moved up, now third in line. The person ahead of the queue finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” No, actually, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. A stateside native? At this location? The pronunciation indicated it, and few locals says to others those exact words, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. You don’t get people from America frequenting this area, least of all working in petrol stations or other places.

Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her food items, her handbag and her rewards card. The process dragged on. After she finished, she too was wished an excellent day. Clearly an American. Confirming it was possible by cracking a joke at the cashier, to observe that thing their typical stare, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of anything hilarious to say.

Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, which amounts to the same thing – as she gazed me right in the eye, piercingly, and wished me to have a great day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.