Meeting a Self-Professed Genius

She knew it all; she was brilliant. A genius. I had never met her before, but she told me right away. I watched my tablemate’s faces. They knew her. They were grinning. I will do that! She said at every task we were given that day. The others backed off right away; I was the only one who fought her. But after a bit of time, I too, gave up. It was not worth taking on her intense knowledge That she was the only one who would do the task in a brilliant way. She was a genius. She said. She was the best. She said. A genius at alienating other people. The best at being a selfish, know-it-all who did not know what a team was. I, I, I, me, me, me, she sang as she did all of the tasks. It was the last time I made the mistake Of sitting at a table with her. She had taught me that at least.