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This occurred on a day of rest, and I found myself in a foul mood, topping off my mother's vehicle. It was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of somewhat expensive items. It's an awful situation to happen when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.

I was fourth among those waiting. Just one cashier operating, a youthful clerk. There was something unusual to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for a cleaning product, his pastry, and his box of eggs, I could have sworn I heard the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Strange. Could be I misunderstood, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she could even be a comrade in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down simple fuel-buyers such as myself.

I moved up, to third in the queue. The new leader of our line finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” In fact, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person tells people such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Very rare. You don’t get US citizens visiting this town, and definitely not holding jobs in fueling spots or elsewhere.

Second in line at last. After an elderly lady engaged in a protracted effort with her basket, her groceries, her purse and her rewards card. This took an eternity. Once completed, she too got told a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by cracking a joke in her direction, to check for that thing their typical stare, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter.

In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as identical in effect – with which she looked straight at me, piercingly, and bid me an awesome day. It improved my mood. It was a good thing.