I was heading to work as had been the tradition for several weeks now, since my transfer to another branch of the organisation where I worked.  I was really running late; besides, I wanted to get into the office before the showers began. I had no umbrella and I was commuting by public transport (specifically danfo). I stood at the bus stop for about thirteen minutes (it seemed a lot longer) before I finally got a bus that was heading my way.

I got in as quickly as I could without injury (danfos do not totally stop to allow passengers get off or on). As I sat, I said good morning to the woman I sat next to. She retorted with: “how big are you that you’re asking me to adjust?” I was astonished at her response but I was way too focused on getting to my office that I dismissed it as one of those bizarre incidences.

Oblivious of the fact that some other commuters noticed what had just happened, a man sited at the back row tapped the woman and told her that she was wrong to have snapped at me like that especially when I was only greeting her. He told her all he had witnessed and with her eyes to the ground, she apologized. “Well, that went well”, I thought. I thanked the man for his intervention and alighted at my bus stop. Thankfully, I got to work in good time.