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The scene was a weekend morning, and I felt sufficiently irritable, refueling the family car. It was a typical gas station that doubles as a grocery store, which often leads of ending up in line people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to occur when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.

I was fourth in the queue. Just one cashier operating, a young woman. There was something unusual in her demeanor. When the faffer at the first position had completed payment for his purchases, his pastry, and some breakfast items, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier bid him to have a great day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. I pondered if she could even be a comrade in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for those who delay simple fuel-buyers like me.

Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and few locals says to others those exact words, or even just a nice day. Highly unusual. You don’t get US citizens visiting this town, least of all employed at gas stations or elsewhere.

Second in line at last. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a right old battle with her basket, her food items, her purse and her rewards card. It went on for ever. When she was done, the woman also received the wish to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. Confirming it was possible by saying something hilarious in her direction, to check for that response as they gaze at you, stoically, and say with absolute sincerity: “That’s really funny.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to express.

Ultimately, I accepted the heartfelt tone – or an impersonation of it, that equates to no different – with which she looked straight at me, piercingly, and bid me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.