The necklace was rather unique and mysterious and it looked very old and appeared to be engraved or handcarved. I’d never seen anything like it.

“That necklace came from Africa. Do you remember me tellin’ you about that, Layla?” Mama said.

Mama continued, “Layla, girl, remember now, once you put it on you can never take it off, ‘cause that necklace has the power to keep you safe! Okay, Layla?”

Layla nodded and said, “Okay, Mama.”

Then Layla said, “I want to look at it, Daddy!” Then she scurried over from the other side of the table, and, as we had done many times before, I slipped it off my neck and held it in my hand while she stood there and silently looked at it.

“It’s so pretty!” she said.

Mama replied, “Yes it is, child, yes it is. I remember it well.”

I glanced over at Maggie and said, “Sweetheart, let’s go for a walk! Want to come along, Layla?”

“Yeah, let’s bring Buddy too!” Layla said.

As we cleared the table I took Mama off to the side and said, “And when did you start wearing that necklace?”

“Well, when I was six, child, when I was six,” and with that Mama gave me a wink and wry smile and disappeared into the kitchen.