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This occurred on a Sunday morning, and I found myself in a foul mood, filling up my mother's vehicle. The location was a common fuel stop that operates as a supermarket, so you run the risk of joining a queue people bearing baskets of pricey provisions. A terrible fate to unfold when all you want is to complete a simple refueling. Awful.

I was fourth in the queue. A single cashier operating, a youthful clerk. There was something unusual to her presence. After the ditherer at the first position had completed payment for a cleaning product, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me that I heard the cashier wish him an excellent day. Odd. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she might actually be an ally in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down straightforward customers like me.

Advancing next, now third in line. The new leader of our group discharged her fuel-only transaction with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” To be precise, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and few locals wishes anyone a wonderful day, or simply a good day. Very rare. It's uncommon to find people from America frequenting this area, and definitely not employed at gas stations or anywhere else.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her food items, her handbag and her membership pass. The process dragged on. Once completed, the woman also received the wish to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by making a witty remark in her direction, to check for that reaction when they look at you, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to express.

Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, that equates to no different – as she gazed straight at me, to my very core, and bid me an awesome day. I felt better for it. It was a good thing.