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This occurred on a weekend morning, and I felt grumpy enough, filling up my mum’s car. It was a typical gas station that doubles as a convenience store, so you run the risk of ending up in line shoppers with carts of pricey provisions. It's an awful situation to happen when all you want is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.

I was fourth among those waiting. Just one person serving, a young woman. Something stood out to her presence. Once the slowpoke at the front of the queue had at last settled for his Viakal, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, I was certain I heard the cashier tell him to have a great day. Odd. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and meant it ironically. I wondered if perhaps she was a comrade in my fight against faff, reflecting my irritation for people who hold up simple fuel-buyers including me.

Taking a step forward, becoming the third customer. The next shopper of our group finished pumping gas with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” To be precise, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here says to others such a cheerful phrase, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find people from America visiting this town, least of all employed at gas stations or other places.

I was second now. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a right old battle with her shopping cart, her food items, her wallet and her rewards card. This took an eternity. After she finished, she too got told to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by making a witty remark in her direction, to check for that reaction when they look at you, stoically, and state very earnestly: “You are very amusing.” However, nothing occurred of a funny comment to express.

Ultimately, I accepted the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, that equates to no different – with which she looked straight at me, to my very core, and bid me an awesome day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.