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It was a Sunday morning, and I was grumpy enough, refueling my mother's vehicle. It was a typical gas station that also functions as a grocery store, which often leads of ending up in line customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to occur when all you want is to complete a simple refueling. Awful.

My position was fourth among those waiting. There was only cashier operating, a youthful clerk. Something stood out about her. After the ditherer at the head of the line had completed payment for his Viakal, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, I was certain I heard the cashier tell him a wonderful day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and meant it ironically. I wondered if perhaps she was a comrade in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down simple fuel-buyers like me.

Advancing next, to third in the queue. The new leader of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” To be precise, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. An American? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. You don’t get US citizens visiting this town, certainly not working in petrol stations or anywhere else.

I was second now. Following a senior shopper embroiled in a protracted effort with her basket, her food items, her purse and her membership pass. This took an eternity. When she was done, the woman also was wished a wonderful day. Clearly an American. Confirming it was possible by saying something hilarious to her, to see if she did that reaction their typical stare, stoically, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to utter.

In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as no different – as she gazed me right in the eye, to my very core, and wished me to have a great day. My spirits lifted. It was a good thing.