Chapter 8

" Young master, are you here to buy clothes for your wife?". " I'm pretty sure your wife would love these jewelries". Everyone seemed to be taking about a wife. It was like his head was going to explode. As Jason walked through the market, women selling ladies item called out to him, telling him to buy something from them for his wife. " I'm not married. Why would they think I've a wife", Jason thought. He was of marriage age but it never dawned on him that he would need to get himself a woman. He just kept walking, not minding the words of the traders. " I don't need a woman", he said to himself.

He took a different route when going home from the market. He was afraid he might encounter those traders again. With his items in his hands, he walked with his head up, thinking about the kind of meal to prepare for his mother when he gets home. " Mom is right, I'm a terrible cook. I can't even eat the meal I prepare. Its tasteless". Mother has to force herself to eat my horrible cooking so she can take her medicine. She deserves better. I wish I could cook her something tasty at least.

" Hello pretty, how are you doing?" " Are you lost?", the vile men of Voja teased the pretty lady walking past. " Yes, I'm kinda lost and need a place to stay", she replied. They fought among themselves on who was going to take her home. Jason just watched from a distance. " How could she be so naive ", he thought. "Does she know the kind of men she is talking to?". After a long quarrel, they finally decided who was going away with her. " Come with me miss", one of the men said. The lady was glad that she was going to have a place to stay. " Thank you", she replied happily. She followed him. That lady is not going to like the surprised she's going to get. " Well, too bad for her", he said as he walked away. He hadn't gone far when he heard a shout. "Help, help!!". " What are you doing? Get your hands off me". Jason just laughed as he continued walking away. " How could she be so stupid", he thought. " Please help me", the shout continued, this time in a crying tone.

" Mother, I'm home". " Welcome, my son", Martha replied hugging him. Just then she walked in. " Good day to you ma", she said with a bow. " You too my dear", Martha replied feeling astonished to see a lady alongside her son, Jason. " Jason", she shouted, hitting him with her stick. " Where are you manners? Are you not going to introduce the lady with you to me?". Jason just stood, dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say. How was he going to explain why he came home with a lady to his mother? " Jason", Martha exclaimed. " I'm Sofinna", she spoke on his behalf. " Jason saved me from being raped. I don't have a place to stay so I just followed him here even though he told me to go away. Kind ma, can I live here with you?", Sofinna knelt down to ask. " Of course my dear", Martha replied with a cheerful face. She was happy to see a lady coming home with her son. Just from looking at her, she wanted her son and Sofinna to be wedded. " You naughty boy", Martha nagged, hitting him hard with her stick again. " How can you treat a lady in such manner?".

Martha and Sofinna sat together, talking. Martha kept apologising for her son's ill treatment towards her. " Please forgive my son, he is not used to women". " Where are you from?", Martha asked. " Judging from your name, I can tell you are not from around here". "You're right ma", Sofinna replied. " Well, I'm from...", she was saying when they heard the sound of things falling. Jason had mistakenly turned over the pot of food he was cooking. As soon as the pot hit the ground, its content splashed all over the place. " What happened!", Martha exclaimed as herself and Sofinna rushed over to the scene. " I'm sorry mother, I was a little distracted". " You should be more careful Jason. Are you hurt?", Martha asked. She had always been very concerned about her sons well being. She can spot the smallest sore at the side of Jason's head. " I'm fine mother", Jason replied a bit embarrassed. His mother was fond of being over protective of him, at home or in public. It made him feel like a child. " If you don't mind, I can make dinner".