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It was a day of rest, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, refueling the family car. It was a common fuel stop that doubles as a supermarket, which often leads of joining a queue shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to unfold when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Dreadful.

Fourth in line I stood in the queue. Just one person serving, a youthful clerk. Something stood out to her presence. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had finally paid for a cleaning product, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier wish him an excellent day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and was being sarcastic. The thought crossed my mind if she might actually be an ally in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas such as myself.

I moved up, to third in the queue. The next shopper of the queue completed her gasoline purchase with notable efficiency. Once more it happened: “Have a wonderful day.” No, actually, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? Here in Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and few locals wishes anyone a wonderful day, or merely a pleasant day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find US citizens frequenting this area, certainly not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.

Now I stood second. After an elderly lady dealing with a lengthy struggle with her carryall, her groceries, her purse and her membership pass. This took an eternity. When she was done, the woman also got told an excellent day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by saying something hilarious in her direction, to see if she did that reaction when they look at you, unsmilingly, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to express.

In the end, I embraced the heartfelt tone – or an impersonation of it, that equates to no different – with which she looked me right in the eye, deep into my soul, and told me a wonderful day. It improved my mood. A positive experience.