She walked into the room heavily, her sandals slapping the floor noisily, her fat wobbling on the various parts of her body. Every eye in the canteen turned towards her to stare at her huge body wrapped in a striped voluminous robe.
"Steve, where is my camera?" she barked. Like a puppet show, all eyes turned from her to Steve, perched on the edge of a chair, while the latter's remained trained on her.
"I do not have any camera," he said through clenched teeth. He looked undaunted by her attitude of obviously spoiling for a fight.
She leaned her large frame against the counter. "Are you bringing my camera, or must I come for it?" A gasp spread round the room. Never had they heard a warm-blooded male being threatened by a woman ever in their lives.
Lenny, one of the older guys, stood up and walked up to Hilda. "How did your camera get into Steve's hands?"
"He said he was selling it. He showed it to me but I did not have the money at that time. When I found it I gave it to him and he promised to bring me the camera. He has not."
"Steve, is that true?"
"Pure lies!" said he, looking out of the window.
"You thief!" shouted Hilda.
"Come, come!" Lenny tried to calm the situation. "Please come here, Steve."
"You think you are my dad, to summon me like that?"
Hilda could take it no more. In a few strides she was at Steve's side and had grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. A few of the guys scrambled away, not wanting to be involved. Lenny was hot on her heels and grabbed her hand. But she swung her huge body throwing Steve off balance. He knocked against the chair and staggered. Hilda's hold was still firm and she pulled him towards her, Lenny's hand still clasped on hers but having little effect. Steve lost his balance again and she pushed him roughly from her. He fell across his chair, upsetting it and both of them crashing to the ground.
"Hilda, please! I am sure we can talk this out," pleaded Lenny in plaintive voice. She turned fiery eyes on him, while a few of the braver guys came closer. None of them wanted this fight to go on, humiliating one of their own, although it did not look as if they would be able to stop the large woman.