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It was a weekend morning, and I found myself grumpy enough, refueling my mother's vehicle. It was a common fuel stop that also functions as a convenience store, so you run the risk of joining a queue people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to happen when your only desire is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful.

My position was fourth in the waiting line. There was only person serving, a female attendant. There was something unusual about her. After the ditherer at the front of the queue had at last settled for his purchases, his pastry, and his box of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or maybe she did say it and meant it ironically. I wondered if she might actually be an ally in the war on delays, echoing my disdain for people who hold up simple fuel-buyers including me.

Taking a step forward, to third in the queue. The new leader of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “have a wonderful day”. Someone from the US? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and few locals says to others those exact words, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. Rarely does one encounter US citizens frequenting this area, certainly not holding jobs in fueling spots or anywhere else.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a right old battle with her basket, her purchases, her wallet and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. When she was done, she too received the wish a wonderful day. Clearly an American. Confirming it was possible by making a witty remark at the cashier, to check for that reaction as they gaze at you, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” But I couldn’t think of anything hilarious to express.

I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, which amounts to identical in effect – as she gazed straight at me, to my very core, and told me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.