"See you later!"??

Went out to buy newspaper at a newsagent/mini-supermarket near my house. I always go to the shop for newspaper on Saturdays because a shops where I go on weekdays usually sell out the newspaper by 9.30am. (Yes, love my weekend lie-in too much.)

Was the only customer in the shop. Said "hello" to a shop assistant at the till and grabbed the paper and some sweets for my girls. When leaving the shop, the assistant said to me "See you later". Said "Bye" to him and got out of the shop as usual, but suddenly thought "Why "See you later" to me? I don't even know your name!!"

Well, don't get me wrong, am not annoyed at all. Just thought that his choice of greeting was rather odd. I mean, "See you later" is just another form of "Bye". But to me it's for between 2 people who is more than acquaintances. To a person whose face he/she is happy or/and willing to see again. I know the manageress of the shop because she lives 2 doors away from my house and I know her parents as well. So, I have a light-hearted chat with her in the shop quite often. But this particular shop assistant... I like him as he is always very pleasant with a lovely smile. Well, probably he chose the words because he is from another country. (I'm 99% sure he is.) Anyway, it's nice to hear such unexpected words first thing in the morning. (I always go to the shop half asleep or half dead, without make-up.) At least it put a little smile on my face.