Then she continued her tirade.

“You’ve hardly started teaching and you think you know it all? Brother, the only thing you know is how to show off and how to spread manure! Take a good, long look at how others react to you and you will see that they barely tolerate you. Take off your blinkers and smell the espresso, boetie. This college is not your mama’s house where you can act like a spoilt brat. Here, we are all equals and we respect each other equally.”

She turned on her heel and walked calmly back to her work station. During her entire outburst, she did not once break a sweat and not a single strand of hair came loose. In contrast, Ameer was red in the face, his forehead was beaded with a thin sheen of perspiration and his heart was a galloping horse.

“Nomhle,” he said meekly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was being such a jerk. I really was unaware that I was acting like an ass. Thanks for telling me.”

It turned out he was actually a kind guy with a forgiving heart. He just needed to be told by a woman to get his act together. After a week of physical discomfort, he found the sweet spot and made amends with everyone, Nomhle included. Thereafter he treated her with the utmost respect one shows a mortal adversary. He still beat a hasty retreat though, whenever he was alone in the workroom and she entered it.

***

Tell us: What are your final thoughts about Ameer?