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It was a day of rest, and I found myself in a foul mood, topping off my mother's vehicle. The location was a common fuel stop that doubles as a convenience store, which often leads of ending up in line customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to occur when all you want is to complete a simple refueling. Dreadful.

Fourth in line I stood in the queue. There was only person serving, a female attendant. A peculiar quality about her. After the ditherer at the head of the line had at last settled for his purchases, his sausage roll, and his box of eggs, I was certain I heard the cashier bid him an excellent day. Strange. Perhaps I’d misheard, or perhaps she spoke and meant it ironically. I pondered if she could even be an ally in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas like me.

I moved up, becoming the third customer. The person ahead of our line completed her gasoline purchase with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. A stateside native? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and no British person wishes anyone such a cheerful phrase, or merely a pleasant day. Highly unusual. You don’t get many Americans frequenting this area, and definitely not holding jobs in fueling spots or other places.

Now I stood second. After an elderly lady engaged in a protracted effort with her basket, her purchases, her wallet and her rewards card. It went on for ever. When she was done, she as well got told to have a fantastic day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by saying something hilarious in her direction, to check for that reaction when they look at you, stoically, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” Yet no idea came of a jest to express.

I just had to settle for the absolute sincerity – or a performance of it, that equates to the same thing – as she gazed directly into my eyes, deep into my soul, and told me to have a great day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.