02.06.08 Harsh Words Should Not Penetrate Your Emotions – It Is Never Worth It (Orig Ng 20)

20. Of ‘Bronchitis and the Acidic Tongue’

Nakintu opened the windows one early March morning and frowned as she noticed the grey clouds signalling that it was just about to rain.  

She rushed to the small corner of their sitting room, which constituted her daughter’s ‘bedroom’.    “Kulabako”, she said almost shouting.  “Wake up!  You know that you have an exam today”.  

Kulabako sat up startled.  It was obvious that she was still drowsy, having slept a bit late the night before, trying to do some last minute reading, in preparation for the Primary Seven exams.  Kulabako had read and read; as evidenced by the smell of fumes from the paraffin lamp that still faintly lingered in the air.  

“Hurry up, it may rain any minute from now”, Nakintu said emphatically, as Kulabako rolled up her mattress.  And as it started to drizzle, Nakintu sighed as she recalled how the thought of ‘rain’ would give her shivers some time back, when Kulabako was still a toddler.  

The girl’s mother still remembered how her husband Luwano had returned home one day, to break the wonderful news that he had been offered a job as a cook for Scots and Betty, a family of white missionaries.  Prior to that, he had been selling water at the village well, and doing scanty odd jobs that provided unsteady trickles of income.  Therefore, the new job was a relief as it would provide the cash that they so desperately needed to make ‘ends meet’.

Top on the agenda was the dream for their only child Kulabako to get the education which her parents had never attained.  Therefore, as soon as the girl turned four, they took her to a school nearby.  Fortunately, Kulabako had been so excited with the ‘nursery experience’… other little boys and girls, the swing, the slide, ‘hide and seek’, and singing nursery rhymes.

However, things took an ugly twist one afternoon, after Kulabako came back home soaked from the rain.  That night, Nakintu woke up to find that Kulabako was experiencing difficulties in breathing.  Her condition worsened in the wee hours, to the point that Luwano had to rush her to hospital, on his bicycle.

One look at the girl and it was clear that she had developed a bad case of bronchitis; and as they explained to the doctor, he concluded that the rain had a lot to do with Kulabako’s condition.

They were given some drugs, with strict instructions that the girl should never be exposed to such weather again, as this could put her life in danger.

Kulabako had recovered within a week.  However, the rainy season would take another two months and her parents did not know what to do as the likelihood for their daughter to get wet as she walked to or from school was high.  Did this mean that she would have to sit at home until the wet season was over?  What effect would this have on the education dream they had for Kulabako?

Back at work, Luwano was so disturbed that his boss, Betty noticed.  “Are you alright?” she inquired with a frown.  “It looks as if your mind is not here!”  Luwano poured out his worries to the boss, who listened with a sympathetic ear.

Betty was deeply touched with their situation, saying that she had ever experienced a similar situation with one of her children.  She advised that the child carries a raincoat.  “I know they are not available here, but I could give you a used one if you don’t mind”.  And, from the day that Kulabako started using the raincoat, bronchitis had become history!

Kulabako’s story reminds me of some bosses who have the notorious habit of ‘raining their fury’ on frontline staff, causing the latter to feel so bad to the extent that external customers notice.

This is the problem that one receptionist, Batila is experiencing. She reports that it has become difficult for her to handle visitors because her boss, Suzi, is very rude; a fact which often contributes to spoiling Batila’s mood.  

My advice is that firstly, Suzi must stop upsetting her supervisees by controlling her anger.  She needs to know that uncontrolled emotions signify that one lacks discipline; and only serves to earn her some disrespect from supervisees.

Secondly, I recommend that Batila ‘wears a raincoat’ whenever she is dealing with her boss.  Batila should not torture herself by taking Suzi’s irresponsible comments to heart every day.  To the contrary, she should learn to ignore Suzi’s acidic tongue, rather than allowing the boss to ‘get on her nerves’ each time.   

Thirdly, under no circumstances should Batila ever exhibit a bad mood to external customers, as they expect excellent service regardless of what is happening within the organisation.

Last but not least, if your boss is like Suzi, remember to carry a raincoat with you.  You just never know when it will rain!