Hoping to get through bill paying, banking and other mundane tasks as quickly as possible, I leave the house before eight am, anticipating being first, second or third in line at the first establishment on my list.On the way to Scarborough I stop at the gas station. After filling up my tank, the pump attendant smiles and says: "Enjoy the rest of your day."
I return the sentiment. His simple words and pleasant demeanour have a positive impact–especially so early in the morning, setting the tone for the day ahead.Next, I enter the shop at the gas station where my greeting of "Good morning" is met by a general chorus of "Good morning" and a specific "Good morning, sweetheart" from a large middle-aged man near the door.
In Scarborough, I park and begin walking, stopping at a bakery on the way to my destination. The bakery attendant hands me my order of a pie, saying: "Here, darling."The name of the Tobago village, Pleasant Prospect, comes to mind. It is as if today I could give the whole of Tobago that name–simply because wherever I go there is the prospect of someone being pleasant.
Next, as I wait outside of the as-yet-unopened T&TEC with two other customers, we are greeted with a pleasant "Good morning" from each employee who passes us on their way into the office.Slowly, other customers begin to arrive. We gather in no particular order in front of the building. When the guard emerges and turns the CLOSED sign to OPEN, we all stream in.
It strikes me that, unlike what I have often seen happening in Trinidad, no one is rushing, pushing or scrambling under the barricades to be first in line. Instead, everyone moves slowly, respectful of those who were waiting first. "Number one!" shouts the elderly man who was there first.
Number two!" says the woman who was with him.
As they head to the front of the line, a woman points to me: "And this lady was next."Customers step aside allowing me to pass.When I am at the counter, I hear the cashier to my left tell his customer: "You have a wonderful day."The customer, before leaving, replies: "Thanks. You have a wonderful one as well."
The woman attending to me is quiet and unsmiling, but polite. As I wait for her to process my transaction, I can't help but overhear the rapport between the cashier to my left and his customers.Before walking off, the current customer in his care says: "Thank you, sir."The cashier responds: "You're most welcome, sir."
By this time I am noting all of these overheard pleasantries in a little book I carry in my bag–knowing that I am going to write about them and will need to remember them all.Later, I go to another bakery, intending to buy some of the delicious bakes to which a friend had introduced me. The attendant goes to the back of the shop with a bag and returns a short while after, bag empty, mouth twisted slightly with disapproval.
"The bake dry and hard today, not soft and moist," she tells me with unapologetic honesty. "I don't think you will still want it."I smile, thank her and leave, appreciating the fact that she did not try to "make a sale" with a product that was not up to par that day.Business owners spend lots of money on advertising but, from my perspective, the best advertisements, guaranteed to bring repeat customers, are pleasant and honest employees.