"When I grew older and awkward, when my parents divorced and life had gone all to hell, Demetrie stood me at the wardrobe mirror and told me over and over, 'You are beautiful. You are smart. You are important.' It was an incredible gift to give a child who thinks nothing of herself"

This quote speaks to the power of favorable reinforcement and the significance of having a helpful figure in one's life. Demetrie's words of affirmation and encouragement were a lifeline for the narrator throughout a tough time. Despite the mayhem and upheaval of her moms and dads' divorce, Demetrie existed to remind her of her worth and value. Her words provided the narrator with a sense of security and self-confidence, and assisted her to believe in herself even when life seemed to be falling apart. Demetrie's gift was invaluable, and it is clear that her words had an enduring influence on the storyteller.