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It was a day of rest, and I felt sufficiently irritable, filling up my mother's vehicle. The location was one of those petrol stations that doubles as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of waiting behind customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. A terrible fate to occur when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Awful.

I was fourth in the waiting line. Just one employee working, a youthful clerk. There was something unusual about her. 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 overhearing the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Unusual. Perhaps I’d misheard, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was a supporter in my fight against faff, reflecting my irritation for those who delay simple fuel-buyers including me.

Advancing next, to third in the queue. The next shopper of our group completed her gasoline purchase with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. Someone from the US? At this location? Her tone suggested it, and no British person tells people those exact words, or simply a good day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter people from America knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not holding jobs in fueling spots or elsewhere.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a lengthy struggle with her basket, her purchases, her wallet and her membership pass. This took an eternity. Once completed, the woman also got told a wonderful day. Yes, American for sure. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark to her, to see if she did that response their typical stare, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “That is quite humorous.” But I couldn’t think of a jest to express.

In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, essentially the same as the same thing – as she gazed straight at me, deep into my soul, and told me an awesome day. I felt better for it. A positive experience.