🔗 Share this article To the Store Clerk That Left Me Absolutely Wordless – My Hat's Off to You This occurred on a weekend morning, and I was sufficiently irritable, filling up the family car. It was a typical gas station that also functions as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue customers carrying goods of somewhat expensive items. This is a dreadful thing to occur when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful. My position was fourth in the queue. Just one employee working, a young woman. There was something unusual about her. After the ditherer at the head of the line had completed payment for his purchases, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and meant it ironically. I pondered if perhaps she was a comrade in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for those who delay straightforward customers such as myself. I moved up, becoming the third customer. The next shopper of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and hardly anyone here says to others such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter many Americans visiting this town, and definitely not employed at gas stations or elsewhere. Now I stood second. Following a senior shopper engaged in a right old battle with her basket, her food items, her wallet and her loyalty card. This took an eternity. After she finished, she as well received the wish to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by making a witty remark in her direction, to observe that thing as they gaze at you, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter. I just had to settle the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as no different – as she gazed directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me to have a great day. It improved my mood. A positive experience.