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It was a Sunday morning, and I felt in a foul mood, topping off the family car. It was one of those petrol stations that also functions as a grocery store, so you run the risk of waiting behind customers carrying goods of slightly overpriced groceries. It's an awful situation to occur when all you want is to pay for some fuel. Terrible.

My position was fourth in the queue. A single employee working, a young woman. There was something unusual about her. Once the slowpoke at the first position had finally paid for his Viakal, a baked snack, and a carton of eggs, I was certain that I heard the cashier wish him a wonderful day. Odd. Maybe it was a mistake, or perhaps she spoke and was being sarcastic. I wondered if perhaps she was a comrade in my battle with dithering, echoing my disdain for people who hold up people just getting gas such as myself.

I moved up, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our line completed her gasoline purchase with commendable speed. And there it was again: “Have a wonderful day.” No, actually, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? In Stourbridge? Her tone suggested it, and few locals says to others those exact words, or even just a nice day. Quite out of place. It's uncommon to find US citizens knocking around Stourbridge, certainly not working in petrol stations or other places.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman embroiled in a protracted effort with her carryall, her food items, her purse and her rewards card. This took an eternity. After she finished, she too received the wish a wonderful day. Clearly an American. I might have verified it by making a witty remark in her direction, to check for that thing their typical stare, without a smile, and state very earnestly: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to express.

Ultimately, I accepted for the absolute sincerity – or an impersonation of it, essentially the same as no different – while she stared directly into my eyes, to my very core, and bid me an awesome day. It improved my mood. Beneficial indeed.