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The scene was a Sunday morning, and I was sufficiently irritable, refueling the family car. The location was one of those petrol stations that doubles as a supermarket, meaning there's a chance of joining a queue customers carrying goods of pricey provisions. It's an awful situation to occur when all you want is to get gasoline and leave. Dreadful.

I was fourth in the queue. Just one employee working, a female attendant. A peculiar quality to her presence. When the faffer at the head of the line had completed payment for his Viakal, a baked snack, and some breakfast items, I could have sworn overhearing the cashier bid him to have a great day. Strange. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe she did say it and was being sarcastic. The thought crossed my mind if perhaps she was an ally in my fight against faff, sharing my contempt for people who hold up people just getting gas such as myself.

I moved up, to third in the queue. The new leader of our line finished pumping gas with notable efficiency. Again, the phrase came: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” In fact, it was “may your day be absolutely splendid”. An American? At this location? Her tone suggested it, and few locals says to others those exact words, or simply a good day. Highly unusual. Rarely does one encounter US citizens frequenting this area, least of all holding jobs in fueling spots or anywhere else.

Now I stood second. Behind a poor older woman engaged in a right old battle with her basket, her food items, her handbag and her rewards card. It went on for ever. When she was done, she as well got told to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I could have confirmed it by making a witty remark at the cashier, to observe that thing when they look at you, without a smile, and reply with genuine earnest: “That’s really funny.” Yet no idea came of anything hilarious to express.

Ultimately, I accepted the genuine warmth – or a mimicry of sincerity, which amounts to no different – while she stared directly into my eyes, piercingly, and told me a wonderful day. I felt better for it. Beneficial indeed.