In the book “Tiger Rising” Robert’s mom dies and at the funeral for his mother Caroline that died from cancer and Rob of course was upset and was crying but his dad slapped him for crying so he left all of his emotions inside of his “suitcase” and the tiger was what was holding down his suitcase but once that tiger got out and robs dad shot the tiger he had nothing to hold his suitcase down so he let all his emotions out even though he was taught that it was bad to let your emotions out he did anyway and he started crying and this time his dad didnt slap him for crying instead he cried as well.