“I didn’t think you would get upset over something so small,” Ameer was saying again, when Nomhle stood up and walked over to him. He was typing on his laptop and had his back to her, so he didn’t see the determination and anger on her face. If he had, he would have run out of the room as if the devil himself had set fire to his pants.

Before he knew it, she was looming over him. He jumped slightly at her invasion of his personal space and tried to back up, but he had nowhere to go. She had effectively cornered him, literally and figuratively.

“Listen, you little snot. You think you can come in here with your oh-so-clever attitude and look down your crooked nose at us? You think you are so high and mighty just because you’re an IT lecturer?” she hissed at him. “Do you seriously think that you can get away with your condescending attitude and arrogance unscathed? Oh no, buster! Not on my watch!” she spat at him. Her words were underscored with judicious jabs of her index finger against his right shoulder. (He would notice a bruise developing there later when he took a shower.) “Laaitie,” she said, “do you have any idea how disliked you are by everyone on this campus? And I mean, everyone!” she emphasised. By this time her face was nearly touching his and Ameer was still squirming to get away. Nomhle realised that she was a bit too close for comfort and slowly moved back, like a satisfied snake retreating graciously from paralysed prey.

“Hey, you can’t go and—” Ameer began to protest when Nomhle cut him off.

“Can’t what, huh? Can’t say what everyone else is saying about you behind your back? Can’t call a spade a spade, when I see one? You have alienated nearly the entire faculty with your conceited manner and swagger. You have offended nearly every person on the staff in some way or another, and I personally have had enough of your stinking attitude. If you don’t change your manner towards us ASAP, you will not have a single colleague who would help you out when you’re in need, or even talk civilly to you. I am only telling you about this because frankly, I’ve had about more than enough of your crappy behaviour and I thought it was about time that someone took you to task,” said Nomhle.

***

Tell us: What are your thoughts about how Nomhle handled Ameer?