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It was a Sunday morning, and I felt sufficiently irritable, refueling my mother's vehicle. This was a typical gas station that also functions as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue shoppers with carts of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to unfold when your only desire is to complete a simple refueling. Awful.

I was fourth among those waiting. A single employee working, a female attendant. Something stood out in her demeanor. When the faffer at the head of the line had finally paid for his Viakal, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me I heard the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Unusual. Maybe it was a mistake, or possibly she uttered it and meant it ironically. I wondered if she might actually be a supporter in my fight against faff, echoing my disdain for individuals slowing down people just getting gas like me.

Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The person ahead of the queue discharged her fuel-only transaction with notable efficiency. And there it was again: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” No, actually, it was “have a wonderful day”. An American? At this location? The pronunciation indicated it, and no British person says to others those exact words, or simply a good day. Very rare. It's uncommon to find many Americans frequenting this area, certainly not employed at gas stations or other places.

Now I stood second. After an elderly lady engaged in a right old battle with her carryall, her food items, her handbag and her membership pass. The process dragged on. After she finished, the woman also was wished to have a fantastic day. Yes, American for sure. Confirming it was possible by cracking a joke at the cashier, to observe that reaction their typical stare, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “That is quite humorous.” Yet no idea came of a jest to say.

In the end, I embraced the genuine warmth – or a performance of it, which amounts to the same thing – with which she looked straight at me, deep into my soul, and told me a wonderful day. I felt better for it. Beneficial indeed.