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The scene was a Sunday morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, refueling my mother's vehicle. It was a common fuel stop that also functions as a convenience store, so you run the risk of ending up in line people bearing baskets of pricey provisions. A terrible fate to happen when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.

Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. There was only cashier operating, a female attendant. Something stood out to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the first position had at last settled for his purchases, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, I could have sworn that I heard the cashier tell him an excellent day. Unusual. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and was being sarcastic. I wondered if perhaps she was an ally in the war on delays, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down people just getting gas such as myself.

I moved up, becoming the third customer. The new leader of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and no British person tells people those exact words, or merely a pleasant day. Very rare. You don’t get people from America frequenting this area, and definitely not working in petrol stations or other places.

Now I stood second. After an elderly lady dealing with a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her food items, her wallet and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also got told a wonderful day. Definitely from the US. Confirming it was possible by saying something hilarious in her direction, to check for that thing as they gaze at you, stoically, and state very earnestly: “That is quite humorous.” However, nothing occurred of a jest to say.

I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as no different – while she stared directly into my eyes, deep into my soul, and bid me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.