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This occurred on a Sunday morning, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, filling up my mother's vehicle. The location was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a convenience store, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to occur when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.

Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. A single employee working, a youthful clerk. Something stood out to her presence. After the ditherer at the first position had at last settled for a cleaning product, his pastry, and some breakfast items, I could have sworn overhearing the cashier bid him a wonderful day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she could even be a supporter in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down simple fuel-buyers such as myself.

Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The new leader of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “have a wonderful day”. A stateside native? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person says to others a wonderful day, or merely a pleasant day. Quite out of place. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.

I was second now. After an elderly lady embroiled in a protracted effort with her basket, her food items, her wallet and her rewards card. It went on for ever. After she finished, she as well received the wish an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious to her, to check for that reaction when they look at you, unsmilingly, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of anything hilarious to say.

I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, which amounts to the same thing – while she stared straight at me, to my very core, and told me to have a great day. I felt better for it. Beneficial indeed.