Giving one of a young maid an instruction to send report to his mom and dad, the head maid in a rush greet her young master full with respect.
"Young master, welcome back. I am sorry for the late welcome. I did not know that you would be back. Did madam know about this?"
"Aunt Martha, it is fine. I like this way better. You know that I hate grand welcome all the time. I love making surprise like this and would make it more often from now on. And to answer your question, mom did not know about this although she did nagged yesterday saying that it has been a while she see me. So, here I am. Where is she anyway?"
"Oh, young master. Please don't do this again. You almost give me a heart attack. Madam is in her sewing room. She said that she have some new ideas for dresses. I am not too sure about that but she seems really excited with it."
"Oh. Is that so? Then, Aunt Martha other than that, is there something weird happen lately here?"
"Hhmm... as far as I remember, no. Why? Is there something wrong? By the way, young master, did you have your breakfast yet? I can make something real quick for you. Let's go to the kitchen and see what I can prepare for you."
Before Noah can reply, he was dragged by the middle age woman to her destination. Even though he reply that he already did have his breakfast, she will make sure he eat her food she make.
After all, Aunt Martha had been taking care of him since he was a toddler. She and his mom are the one who witness him taking his first step. For him, Aunt Martha is not an outsider or even a maid but a family.
As soon as the both of them reach the kitchen, Aunt Martha, pull a chair at the kitchen counter and asked Noah to take a seat and wait. She, then grab a knife, peeling a huge pear and cut them into small pieces for Noah. She would make sure that the young master was occupied before she prepare a simple breakfast.
When Noah watching every move of the middle age woman, he can see that she is so excited to serve him a complete meal for his breakfast. Even at the age that she should retired, Aunt Martha still look very nimble. She was like a warrior but in a kitchen.
She grab a pot and fill it with some rice, wash them and put them on the stove. She then put some flour, salt, sugar and yeast into a bowl. Adding little by little of warm milk before whisk them all together. She prepare a wok on the stove and fill it with quite good amount of oil with small fire.
Knead the dough on the counter, she show Noah how to make some fried milk bread stick with her ability. She was indeed a good cook as she does not need any measuring cup or jar.
He still remember when he was young she brag that all she need is her eyes to measure the amount of ingredients to make something good and healthy. She said that one need to survive even without equipment, that way they will survived in any situation they face one day.
During Noah reminiscent through his memories, he unconsciously realize that a woman walk behind him and about to make a prank of her attendance.
Tapping his shoulder with a loud 'boo', the woman giggle his son who jump on his seat. She was beside herself as her prank she pull on her son work just the way she planned.
"Urghh... Mom, you almost make me fall down from the chair and having a heart attack. When will you act like your age? There is no one your age would do like you." Shaking his head with disbelieve, Noah scrunch his forehead.
He was in a deep thought that he let his guard down for a bit, and then all of a sudden, his mom want to make him a laughing stock. What an unbelievable act. She is in her mid-40s already but still act like a teenage girl in high school.
"Hey... That is not my problem if they don't know how to have fun. And for your information, I am not that old. Look here and over here." Pointing at around her face that show any wrinkle even at her current age. "Do I look like an old lady? I don't even look like a woman in their 40s at all okay. When I walk around, people still call me young lady and tried to woo me." Retort the mother when she heard his son's nagging at her using her age.
Boys, men and everyone, here's one remainder for all of you guys about girls, ladies and women, never touch their sensitive subjects. The subjects meant included their age, weight, food and appearance.
Once you used them as a leverage to win a banter, you make a huge mistake and you will face a hard time sooner or later. They will unconsciously turn the event around.
In conclusion, always be aware of your words you blurt out.
But in Noah case, he receive a beating at once. She slap her son's shoulder strong enough to leave blue bruise.
"Aw. Aw. Mom, please forgive me. That hurts a lot. Stop beating me already. You are going to leave bruises on my precious body."
"That is your fault. You deserved these beating for calling me old. Humph. And don't forget that you come here without telling me. You should have told me that you are going to come back today."
"But, mom, you are the one who call me to come back, isn't? Why put all the blame on me?"
"I know that, brat. From what I remember, you said soon, not today. See, you cause Martha a lot of trouble now. She need to make food for you in a haste while she should have her rest right this moment."
"I know that mom. You does not need to remind me. But, she is the one who insist to make me some food. Even if I tell her I already have my breakfast, she would make sure I have her food anyway. So, I've decided that I would just enjoy whatever food she make for me. I will not give myself a hard time to burn more calories than needed. So, I decide not to have any food but some water before come here else I will overeat again and over again just like before. I think I make a brilliant decision myself. Right, Aunt Martha?" Noah asked Aunt Martha
"Sure, young master. You are making a wise decision. Here, have these before it gets cold." Reply the maid with respect.
She serve Noah a bowl of porridge, fried milk bread stick and a glass of soya bean milk. It was a simple meal, but was prepared full with care and love of the old lady for her young master.
"Martha, stop babying him too much. He is old enough to have a girlfriend already. I wonder when I will get to meet with the girl of his choice. He keep saying that he is already an adult and mature enough to live on his own. But, I guess there is still a long way before I get to play with my own grandkids."
"Mom, I am just about to enter my second year of high school. Why did you suddenly brought up this topic. I am in my prime time to make my career to another stage. It is not like I need to get married right away as soon as I finish high school. So relax, even just now you say that you still young. Why would a young lady need to have a grandchild all of a sudden, humm? Care to explain it to me?"
"Hey, brat. I just plan ahead of the time before I did not get a chance. I just say it out of curiosity. So, does it meant that you are still single after all this time? Is there no pretty girls out there in your eyes? I can help you if you someone in your mind."
"Mom. For now, I just want to focus on my work first. Girlfriend, fling or anything else would ruin my career with bad gossips. I don't know and I don't care about that other than work."
"Boring. So... not cute. You are just like your father. That is why I getting married later than others."
"Humph... Say the one whom willingly to wait and get married to the boring man. Anyway can we talk about other thing? Oh, yeah, before I forgot, just want to let you know, I would not be around later in the evening until tomorrow I guess. There is a fan meeting in City B tomorrow. I will be back the earliest in the night flight tomorrow."