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It was a day of rest, and I was sufficiently irritable, refueling my mum’s car. The location was one of those petrol stations that operates as a convenience store, which often leads of ending up in line customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. A terrible fate to happen when your only desire is to complete a simple refueling. Terrible.

Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. Just one person serving, a young woman. Something stood out to her presence. After the ditherer at the first position had completed payment for his purchases, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier wish him an excellent day. Strange. Could be I misunderstood, or possibly she uttered it and used a mocking tone. I wondered if perhaps she was a comrade in the war on delays, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas like me.

I moved up, now third in line. The new leader of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? At this location? Her tone suggested it, and no British person says to others those exact words, or simply a good day. Very rare. It's uncommon to find people from America knocking around Stourbridge, and definitely not employed at gas stations or anywhere else.

I was second now. After an elderly lady embroiled in a protracted effort with her carryall, her food items, her handbag and her rewards card. It went on for ever. Once completed, the woman also received the wish a wonderful day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to observe that thing as they gaze at you, stoically, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to express.

Ultimately, I accepted the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as the same thing – with which she looked me right in the eye, to my very core, and told me an awesome day. I felt better for it. It was a good thing.