Page 1 of It Started With a Scarf

Prologue

Marley Mathews

~

Chandler, Texas

Fourteen years ago

I was having the best day of my life.

I was finally double digits, and I happened to be experiencing the birthday party of my ever-loving dreams. It didn't start out that way. At first, my party was a real dud. I had three friends over from school, and we ate some chips and a slice of birthday cake, but there was no plan or party games. My mom didn't have time for all that. My dad worked evenings at the hospital. It was only afternoon, but he had gone to work already, and he wouldn't be home until past my bedtime. The party was my idea and my responsibility. I was expected to entertain my friends while my mom kept my little sister busy.

But then, like a beacon of hope, my grandma, Nessa, showed up unexpectedly and saved the day. She really shook things up. She was the one who had made it the best day ever. She asked what we were doing sitting around like bumps on logs, and then we got into the car and went to the mall in the next town. Nessa drove my friends and me, and there was no room for my mom or sister in her car, so they followed us.

My grandma was the best. We walked an entire lap around the mall like we owned the place. We went into three stores, and my grandma bought each of us our own stuffed animal. We did as we pleased at the mall for a while, and then she took us to a fancy, sit-down Mexican restaurant. My mom didn't want to go eat at first, but she relented on the condition that we settled for appetizers only.

Nessa ordered us virgin daiquiris with little umbrellas. My friends loved the whole experience, and they treated me like I was their favorite person in the whole world. My tenth birthday party had been one big change of plans, and it was amazing. Everything was my grandma's idea, and I caught myself at the restaurant, sipping on a tropical frozen drink and smiling at her, thinking about how great it all was. Her eyes were the same greenish color as mine, and there was a twinkle in them. I hoped I looked like her when I was old.

"I have something for you, Marley," she said to me. "It's in the trunk of my car… I'll go get it."

"No, Mom, that's going to take forever. We're going to the car when we leave here. Just give it to her then."

"Aw, come on, Torrie. It'll be nice to give to her now," she said to my mom. Nessa stood from her spot.

She and my mom had an exchange. I was only vaguely aware of it because my friends said something to me. My mom was annoyed, but I didn't care. Ultimately, Nessa walked out to get whatever she wanted to give me. I talked to my friends while my grandma was away.

Nessa had let us have a dream day at the mall, and I easily ignored my mom's disapproval. I was unaware of how long it had been, but soon, my grandma came back, carrying a ball of knitted yarn. I knew what it was. It was her special scarf. I had seen her wearing it before, and I had heard her talking about it. She smiled and stared right at me as she approached the table with it. As she got closer, she extended her hands, giving it to me. She sat down next to me after I took it from her.

"Go ahead and try it around your neck, and let your friends see."

"Mom, what are you doing? Don't give her that."

"Shhh, let me talk to my granddaughter for a minute, Torrie," Nessa said sternly to my mom. She turned to me and smiled. "You're getting older and becoming a young lady, Marley." I nodded at her, which made her smile widen. "I want you to have Nessa's famous scarf for your tenth birthday, okay?"

"What? No!" I insisted even though I wanted it. I glanced at my mom who nodded like I did the right thing by denying it.

"Now listen, I am a grown woman. I know it's your job to listen to your mom, Marley, and look to her for approval, but I’m your mom's mom. And sometimes, I get to do what I want and treat my granddaughter on her big tenth birthday. Try it on," she said, urging me.

I did so reluctantly.

Nessa watched me try it on and then she looked at my friend who was sitting next to me. "Now, this isn't just any scarf, it's a very special scarf, indeed." She wore an intriguing expression, settling into her chair in just the right way so that I knew she was about to tell a story.

My mom sighed, but my grandma was unfazed.

"Mariam Waterson gave me this scarf. Do you girls know who that is?"

I nodded, but I heard one of my friends say, "No," from behind me.

"Well, she is a very famous actress," Nessa said. "She's been in movies with Robert Redford and Marlon Brando. Mariam Waterson made this scarf herself, back in the early nineteen eighties, when she was still making movies. She has red, curly hair. It's white now, but then it was red. And she was always such a bright, colorful person—that's why there's all the bright colors in the scarf." Nessa reached out and touched the scarf, pulling it toward her and inspecting it closely. "She made each of these little knots by hand. And Mariam was explaining to me that this reddish section was done while she was in India. She said she didn't plan on putting that much red into this part, but she bought the yarn from a street vendor, and then the red section ended up being her favorite. Do you girls know where India is?"

"I do."

"No ma'am."

I nodded since I did remember seeing it on a map at school.

"It's on the complete opposite side of the world. The scarf has been all over the Lord's green earth, literally. It's a truly famous scarf that I'm giving to you, Marley. It has been touched by famous hands and worn by famous people. It has traveled all over the world and probably even been in movies."

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