Aco-worker, with whom you have shared your concerns about the manager, has avoided you for several days. facts: interpretation #1: interpretation #2: request for clarification combined with behavior and interpretations:

Facts:

Interpretation #1:

Your co-worker has been too busy with other tasks and feels he can't waste time engaging in conversation with any co-workers (not just you) for the moment.

Interpretation #2:

Your co-worker has reported your concerns to the manager and the manager responded negatively; now he (your co-worker) is afraid of being fired if the manager sees the both of you getting along.

Request for clarification combined with behavior and interpretations:

"Hello there! I haven't heard from you in quite a while; I hope everything is alright. At first I thought you must be so busy these days that you can't afford to drop by and have a conversation, but at the same time, I couldn't help to wonder if this has something to do with the things I told you about the manager last week. Did you speak to the manager about my concerns?"

the rhetoric device being used to persuade the audience is pathos.

the turtle carries new life, oat seeds, over to the other side of the highway and plants them there.