Addressing the Checkout Assistant That Left Me Completely Without Words – My Hat's Off to You
It was a weekend morning, and I felt sufficiently irritable, topping off my mum’s car. The location was a common fuel stop that operates as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to unfold when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. A single employee working, a youthful clerk. Something stood out about her. When the faffer at the front of the queue had at last settled for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, I was certain overhearing the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she might actually be a comrade in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down people just getting gas like me.
Taking a step forward, now third in line. The person ahead of the queue finished pumping gas with commendable speed. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and few locals wishes anyone a wonderful day, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or anywhere else.
Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her basket, her groceries, her purse and her membership pass. This took an eternity. Once completed, the woman also was wished an excellent day. Yes, American for sure. Confirming it was possible by saying something hilarious to her, to see if she did that reaction their typical stare, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to express.
Ultimately, I accepted the genuine warmth – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as the same thing – as she gazed straight at me, to my very core, and wished me an awesome day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.
