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This occurred on a weekend morning, and I felt grumpy enough, filling up the family car. The location was a typical gas station that operates as a grocery store, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of somewhat expensive items. A terrible fate to occur when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Dreadful.

I was fourth in the waiting line. There was only employee working, a female attendant. There was something unusual about her. Once the slowpoke at the head of the line had completed payment for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, I was certain overhearing the cashier tell him an excellent day. Unusual. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. The thought crossed my mind if she could even be a supporter in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for individuals slowing down simple fuel-buyers like me.

Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The next shopper of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with commendable speed. Once more it happened: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person says to others those exact words, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. You don’t get people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not holding jobs in fueling spots or other places.

I was second now. After an elderly lady engaged in a lengthy struggle with her shopping cart, her groceries, her wallet and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. When she was done, she too was wished a wonderful day. Clearly an American. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to check for that reaction as they gaze at you, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” However, nothing occurred of anything hilarious to express.

I just had to settle the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, which amounts to identical in effect – as she gazed straight at me, to my very core, and wished me to have a great day. It improved my mood. It was a good thing.