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It was a day of rest, and I found myself sufficiently irritable, refueling the family car. This was a common fuel stop that doubles as a supermarket, which often leads of waiting behind shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to occur when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Awful.

Fourth in line I stood in the waiting line. Just one employee working, a youthful clerk. A peculiar quality to her presence. When the faffer at the front of the queue had finally paid for a cleaning product, a baked snack, and his box of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier bid him to have a great day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or possibly she uttered it and meant it ironically. I wondered if she could even be a comrade in the war on delays, reflecting my irritation for those who delay simple fuel-buyers such as myself.

Taking a step forward, now third in line. The next shopper of our line completed her gasoline purchase with impressive quickness. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” No, actually, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? In Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here wishes anyone a wonderful day, or simply a good day. Quite out of place. Rarely does one encounter people from America frequenting this area, and definitely not working in petrol stations or elsewhere.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a right old battle with her shopping cart, her groceries, her handbag and her loyalty card. It went on for ever. When she was done, she as well was wished to have a fantastic day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by cracking a joke to her, to observe that reaction as they gaze at you, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a funny comment to utter.

I just had to settle the heartfelt tone – or an impersonation of it, that equates to the same thing – with which she looked me right in the eye, piercingly, and told me an awesome day. I felt better for it. Beneficial indeed.