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The scene was a weekend morning, and I found myself in a foul mood, refueling my mother's vehicle. This was a typical gas station that operates as a supermarket, so you run the risk of joining a queue people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. A terrible fate to unfold when your only desire is to get gasoline and leave. Awful.

Fourth in line I stood among those waiting. A single cashier operating, a young woman. Something stood out about her. Once the slowpoke at the first position had at last settled for a cleaning product, his pastry, and some breakfast items, I could have sworn I heard the cashier tell him to have a great day. Odd. Could be I misunderstood, or perhaps she spoke and used a mocking tone. I wondered if she might actually be an ally in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up straightforward customers including me.

Advancing next, becoming the third customer. The person ahead of our line completed her gasoline purchase with impressive quickness. Once more it happened: “Wishing you a marvelous day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. A stateside native? At this location? She had the accent, and hardly anyone here says to others such a cheerful phrase, or merely a pleasant day. Very rare. Rarely does one encounter many Americans visiting this town, and definitely not employed at gas stations or anywhere else.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman engaged in a protracted effort with her shopping cart, her purchases, her wallet and her loyalty card. The process dragged on. Once completed, the woman also got told an excellent day. Yes, American for sure. I might have verified it by cracking a joke in her direction, to check for that reaction as they gaze at you, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to say.

In the end, I embraced for the absolute sincerity – or a mimicry of sincerity, essentially the same as identical in effect – with which she looked me right in the eye, to my very core, and wished me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. It was a good thing.