Chapter 46 - 46: I Have A Good News

Sophia told her how she got it. Kate couldn't believe her ears.

"Someone paid you to sing as you do? Really? They're not trying to trap you, are they? I heard there are traffickers in the area. I don't think you can go anymore. No, it's too dangerous!"

If it hadn't been Albert Pearson, Sophia would never have gone, but she knew he was a good man and knew there was no risk.

She smiled, "Don't worry, it's near the school. It's fine. Who would try and kidnap a girl like me?"

She would like to come across some traffickers. With her strength, it would be bad luck for any would-be kidnappers who tried to take her. She could kick their ass easily!

Saturday arrived, and she could stay at home all day. Kate didn't have to go to work, but she got a call in the morning and went out. At noon, she came back with a whole lot of food.

"Mom, why are you so happy?" Sophia could see Kate was in a particularly good mood.

"I have good news!" Kate laughed as she took the food into the kitchen, "The school principal is transferring me to a junior high school because of my good work. I am much better at teaching junior high. And the salary is double for less work!"

"That's amazing. Congratulations, Mom!" Sophia smiled.

Although she used to be a professor, she had never actually done much teaching. She was mainly engaged in research, so she didn't know much about teaching itself. But she did know that her mother stayed up every day to prepare for class and that she was a hard worker. It made total sense she would be promoted for her efforts.

"And I'll have time to cook lunch for you. You won't have to eat in the canteen anymore – you can come home to eat!"

"Great!" Sophia nodded and smiled. She pondered for a moment and said, "Will you teach me how to cook too? I don't even know how to use a gas stove yet!"

She had been helping out before, but just doing dishes and washing up. She had heated leftovers before, but that had just been using a microwave.

"It's very easy." Kate smiled, "Here. I'll teach you right now, and then we can boil some water."

She pointed to the lighter on the gas range, "Press the switch down and turn it. There!"

She demonstrated, and Sophia got it right away.

Kate poured some water into the kettle and put it on the stove, "Have a go!"

Sophia pressed the igniter as Kate had done.

A blue flame sprang up in front of her. The heat stunned her.

The little flame before her seemed to turn into a huge tongue of fire, engulfing her entirely. She felt like she was burning all over. She tried to cry for help only to find that she could not make any sound at all.

"What's the matter, Sophia?" Kate shook her arm anxiously. Sophia was trembling all over and she had broken out in a sweat. "Are you all right? You're scaring me, sweetheart."

Sophia regained control of herself and took a hasty step back. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, "I'm… I'm fine. I'm gonna…wash my face."

She walked quickly to the bathroom and turned on the faucet in a panic. She stretched out her hand to feel the coolness of the water on her hands. It calmed her, and she gradually came back to normal.

She hadn't felt that way when she had seen Kate use the stove for cooking before. But when the flame had come so close to her, and she had felt its burning breath on her face, she couldn't hold back the sudden fear that had taken hold of her.

She had thought that the fire had vanished into the recesses of her memory and that she was safe from the fear and helplessness of that time.

She was wrong.

Meanwhile, Kate was worried about Sophia and had followed her into the bathroom. Seeing Sophia with her hand under the faucet and staring at the stream of water, she was even more perturbed.

"Sophia, what's the matter? Do you need to see a doctor?"

Sophia looked over at her, reached to turn off the tap, and smiled, "I'm fine. I just saw the faucet and thought of a problem my math teacher once told me in elementary school."

Kate was relieved. "What's the problem? Tell me."

Sophia racked her brains to think of something to distract her attention. "It's… the question about the water flowing in and out. Water is poured into a pool at a certain rate while water is also being let out of the pool. The question is will the pool ever be filled? I can't figure out why someone would do such a stupid thing? It's just a waste of water!"

Kate smiled, "It's just a math problem. It doesn't need so much thought! You should go and rest, and I'll finish cooking."

Sophia nodded and went quietly back into the living room.

That evening, Kevin called to tell Sophia that his lawyer had filed a formal lawsuit to enforce the half-ownership of the house he and his sister had been entitled to and to prosecute Linda Barber for desertion.

"Williams said that that woman had counter-sued, asking for a division of my sister's legacy. But he was sure we would win the case."

"Good." Sophia nodded.

Williams had been a top student at Glinton University and was well known amongst his peers in the city. Kevin had the will, which was bulletproof evidence. If Williams couldn't win this legacy case, he wouldn't be able to call himself a lawyer.

As for the property left by Sophia's father, the court had recommended that one party pay half the price to the other and buy the house. But Sophia didn't have the money at the time. Linda did, but she had refused to pay.. Even when Sophia had finally come into more money, she still didn't claim her lawful share.