To the Store Clerk That Made Me Absolutely Without Words – I Salute You
This occurred on a Sunday morning, and I felt grumpy enough, filling up my mum’s car. This was a common fuel stop that operates as a supermarket, which often leads of ending up in line shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to happen when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.
Fourth in line I stood in the queue. A single person serving, a female attendant. A peculiar quality in her demeanor. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had at last settled for a cleaning product, his sausage roll, and some breakfast items, I was certain I heard the cashier bid him an excellent day. Odd. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. I wondered if she might actually be a comrade in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for people who hold up straightforward customers such as myself.
Taking a step forward, becoming the third customer. The new leader of our line completed her gasoline purchase with commendable speed. Again, the phrase came: “Have a wonderful day.” No, actually, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. An American? At this location? The pronunciation indicated it, and hardly anyone here tells people such a cheerful phrase, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. You don’t get many Americans frequenting this area, certainly not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her purchases, her handbag and her membership pass. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also received the wish to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by making a witty remark at the cashier, to check for that response their typical stare, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to express.
I just had to settle the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as no different – while she stared me right in the eye, to my very core, and bid me a wonderful day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.
