My mobile rang. I answered it, swapping the handset to my right ear and sitting down (to concentrate on the conversation and not my balance!)

“Hi Emma speaking” I said

“Is Emma Gee there?” He ashed

“Speaking” I said

“It’s x x x . I’m going to install air conditioner!” He said

“Oh, hi” I said pleased to hear the words ‘air con’ and ‘install’ in the same sentence!

“Is your Mummy or Daddy there?” The air conditioning man asked,way too slowly.

“Why do you need to speak with them?” I queried

“I want to ask them about the air conditioner unit!” He justified.

It was my unit that it was getting installed. I’d done the research.I huffed, shrugging my shoulders.

“I own the place, you can ask me” I said, trying not to get angry

“Can you Mum or Dad call me back?” He said, loud and slow.

Why wouldn’t he speak to me? Maybe it was cultural, but his behaviour made me so defensive.  I was already tired and more sensitive. How could I stand up for myself, be assertive using my monotonous, soft voice? I wanted to curl up in a ball.

However, I thought about the many others who were vulnerable, who lacked an ability to communicate, or confidence to express themselves. This man, wasn’t going to change his views. He was oblivious to the impact it had on me. I had a choice to let it grate me or see it as his problem and get on with things!