It was a Sunday morning, and I was grumpy enough, filling up my mother's vehicle. This was a common fuel stop that doubles as a grocery store, so you run the risk of joining a queue people bearing baskets of pricey provisions. This is a dreadful thing to happen when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Awful.
My position was fourth in the queue. There was only employee working, a youthful clerk. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. When the faffer at the first position had completed payment for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Strange. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I wondered if she could even be a supporter in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for those who delay straightforward customers including me.
Advancing next, to third in the queue. The next shopper of our group finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? Here in Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person wishes anyone those exact words, or merely a pleasant day. Very rare. It's uncommon to find many Americans visiting this town, certainly not working in petrol stations or other places.
Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her purchases, her handbag and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also got told to have a fantastic day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious in her direction, to observe that reaction as they gaze at you, stoically, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of anything hilarious to express.
In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, that equates to identical in effect – as she gazed directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.
A professional gamer and strategy analyst with over a decade of experience in competitive esports.
