Maybe I’m wearing too much, but I have to look good for the cameras. I run downstairs, a little too quickly in heels, and almost lose my footing on the last few steps, but I catch myself just in time. My mom and dad are in the kitchen standing at the table where there is a large brown box. I think that they are more excited than I am.Mom hands me a knife to slice through the tape. I just can’t seem to open the box fast enough. I pull open the flaps and reach inside, pulling out a hardback book. The dust jacket is colourful and has a high school picture of Perry on the front. The title of the book is Rainbow in the Shade. Mom and Dad reach in to grab a copy each as my fingers examine the book in my hands, feeling the hard cover and paper pages, reassuring myself that it is real. I leaf through the pages, picking out a word here and there, and then turn the book over to read the back of the jacket. Along with a couple of quotes from book reviewers, there is a pledge to donate all proceeds from the sale of this book to troubled teens and to help families cope with suicide.‘This is wonderful!’ Mom exclaims.‘Perry would be so proud,’ Dad says.I smile.
