This girl is tying my son with food

Dear Pastor,

I have two sons and one daughter. One of my sons got himself hooked up with a girl.

He used to live with me and I used to cook for him. Since he hooked up with this girl, he started to eat from her. My food wasn't good enough, but I observed that his belly was getting bigger. I asked him what was wrong and he said nothing; I asked him, "Why is it that your stomach is getting so large?" He said he is just fat. His brother and sister became concerned, too, and impressed upon him that he should go to see a doctor. He went and he told us that the doctor said he cannot find anything wrong, so he should go on a diet.

If you were to see my son, you would think that he is eight or nine months pregnant. I called his girlfriend and asked her what is she giving him to eat that has caused him to have such a big belly. She said it is nothing outside the ordinary. I told him that he should go and look after himself because something is wrong.

His sister and I accompanied him to go and see a man that we heard about. The moment the man saw him, he said, "Goodness gracious, why is this girl trying to poison you?" The man told him he should stop eating and drinking from that girl because if he continues to, he will die. I did not tell this seer man that I used to cook his meals and he stopped me; but the man asked me why I have stopped taking the pills. He said if my son continues to eat from her, he will drop dead. My son was very upset. The seer man told him to give him $5,000, and he should drink water and lime every morning and evening.

My son says it is because we don't like his girlfriend why we believe that she is trying to kill him. I have nothing against his girlfriend, but after I found out that her parents were obeah workers, I suspect that she was trying to tie him. I did not see him for four days and when I called, I heard that he did not want to speak to me. I do not know what to do. His sister tries to reach him at work, but they told her he has not been to work as he is on sick leave.

I am asking you for your advice. How can I sit back and allow my son to deteriorate like that? He is 31 years old.

I.T.

Dear I.T.,

Believe it or not, some people still believe that it is possible to tie a man. They buy certain drugs and put these drugs in their food.

Some women still use their dirty underwear and use the water to cook for their men. Yes, that still goes on. I suppose you have heard how some women warn their sons not to eat stew peas from some women. It is amazing what some women will do. I don't want anyone to feel that I am vulgar, so I will not say everything that I was told by some women about what they have done to tie men. These women believe that by doing these dirty things, the man must stay with them.

I was talking to a gentleman who was with a certain woman and he has tried to break off the relationship, but he hasn't been able to do so. He is convinced that the woman has tied him to her. Sister, I don't know if this woman is guilty of trying to tie your son to her, but all I am saying is that I know that that is still being practised in Jamaica.

You are fortunate to have your son and your daughter accompany you, but it didn't help. Your son became angry. He wasted his money by going to see this man. So the question is, what should be done? You should not mention anything about his woman. But you should, from time to time, remind your son to do a physical with your family doctor.

Pastor