🔗 Share this article Addressing the Cashier Who Left Me Completely Wordless – My Hat's Off to You This occurred on a weekend morning, and I felt grumpy enough, filling up the family car. This was a typical gas station that also functions as a grocery store, so you run the risk of joining a queue shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to happen when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful. I was fourth among those waiting. There was only person serving, a female attendant. There was something unusual in her demeanor. After the ditherer at the head of the line had finally paid for his purchases, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me I heard the cashier tell him to have a great day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and was being sarcastic. I wondered if she could even be a supporter in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas including me. I moved up, becoming the third customer. The next shopper of the queue finished pumping gas with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” No, actually, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. Someone from the US? At this location? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here says to others a wonderful day, or even just a nice day. Very rare. It's uncommon to find people from America visiting this town, least of all employed at gas stations or anywhere else. I was second now. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a protracted effort with her basket, her groceries, her purse and her rewards card. The process dragged on. When she was done, she too got told to have a fantastic day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by cracking a joke at the cashier, to see if she did that thing their typical stare, without a smile, and say with absolute sincerity: “That is quite humorous.” But I couldn’t think of a jest to utter. I just had to settle the heartfelt tone – or an impersonation of it, which amounts to identical in effect – while she stared directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me a wonderful day. I felt better for it. It was a good thing.