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It was a day of rest, and I found myself in a foul mood, filling up my mother's vehicle. This was one of those petrol stations that operates as a convenience store, which often leads of ending up in line shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to occur when your only desire is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.

Fourth in line I stood in the waiting line. A single person serving, a youthful clerk. Something stood out about her. When the faffer at the front of the queue had finally paid for his purchases, his pastry, and some breakfast items, I could have sworn I heard the cashier wish him an excellent day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if perhaps she was a supporter in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up straightforward customers including me.

Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The new leader of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and few locals says to others such a cheerful phrase, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. It's uncommon to find US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, least of all employed at gas stations or anywhere else.

Second in line at last. Following a senior shopper engaged in a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her groceries, her purse and her membership pass. The process dragged on. Once completed, she too got told a wonderful day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by cracking a joke in her direction, to see if she did that response their typical stare, stoically, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to say.

Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, that equates to the same thing – as she gazed directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. It was a good thing.