As I buttoned my shirt collar, I could feel the weight of the medallion hanging around my neck. I didn’t expect it to feel so heavy, but it did appear to be gold and some strange luminous stone. It was a little larger than the size of a quarter. I’m sure it was my imagination but as I adjusted to Mama’s medallion I felt a strange warmth in my chest and my heart was beating a little faster than normal. Mama was sipping some tea and looking over the brim of her cup. She was smiling at me and intently watching my every move. Not knowing what to say, I just shifted my weight in the old antique wooden dining chair.

“You feelin’ all that love in the necklace, Mr. Jim?” and with her trademark cackling laugh all I could do was try and hide the deer in the headlights expression that I knew was all over my face. “Oh, you and Mama’s medallion are gonna be just fine, child. Don’t you worry none, everythin’s gonna be just fine.” And with that, just on cue, Layla was letting us know she was finished with her late afternoon nap.