My hair is braided and I’m sitting at my desk trying to get some work done when the new kid in the team walks up to me.
New kid : I like your hair, how long does it take to make? can I touch it?
Me: Polite-ish smile but I answer her questions and even let her touch it.
New Kid: What country are you from?
Me: Still Polite-ish smile and I decide to engage. “Take a guess,” I say.
New Kid: Africa!
Me: Faded smile and trying to be calm I say “Africa is not a country.” (someone else would have added the word dear or love here but I’m not one to misuse words)
NK: ohh give me a clue what’s the first letter?
Me: K
NK: Thinks for a moment then shouts, oh, oh I know Cambodia!
At this point I am not smiling at all as there is someone screaming in my head HOW!!!??? SERIOUSLY??? SERIOUSLY????
Oh no she is not done yet. She goes to lunch and comes back sweating and fanning herself profusely, stands next to me and says, “oh my gosh Catherine it’s Africa out there!”
I actively ignore her and continue typing maybe harder than I intend to.
She leans into my space this time and says “Catherine you didn’t hear me, I said it’s Africa out there.”
After a hard full stop, I swing my chair round so I am looking straight at her. Poker face on;
Me: Have you ever been to Africa?
NK: No
Me: So how do you know it’s just like Africa?
NK: She looks about to see if anyone is witnessing this, on realising that no one else cares, she raises her voice and shouts “oohhh did you guys see her face? and she is so serious! I better not make her angry, she might hit me!”
I am calm! I am calm I am CLAM!!
Cathy Aoll Rambles 