🔗 Share this article Addressing the Checkout Assistant That Made Me Absolutely Speechless – My Hat's Off to You It was a Sunday morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, topping off my mum’s car. It was a common fuel stop that operates as a grocery store, which often leads of waiting behind customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to happen when the sole aim is to complete a simple refueling. Awful. I was fourth among those waiting. There was only person serving, a female attendant. A peculiar quality to her presence. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had at last settled for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and some breakfast items, It seemed to me I heard the cashier wish him to have a great day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and meant it ironically. I wondered if she could even be a comrade in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for people who hold up people just getting gas like me. Taking a step forward, now third in line. The new leader of the queue finished pumping gas with commendable speed. And there it was again: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” To be precise, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone those exact words, or merely a pleasant day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find many Americans visiting this town, least of all holding jobs in fueling spots or other places. Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman engaged in a right old battle with her carryall, her food items, her wallet and her loyalty card. It went on for ever. Once completed, the woman also received the wish an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to check for that reaction when they look at you, unsmilingly, and state very earnestly: “That is quite humorous.” However, nothing occurred of a jest to utter. In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a mimicry of sincerity, that equates to the same thing – as she gazed straight at me, to my very core, and bid me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. A positive experience.