a day late and a dollar short
las vegas 1994 . p the prices are introduced by viola the familys outspoken matriarch her husband cecil has shut the door behind him for the last time ; and their four adult kids scattered across the country seem determined to send her to her grave or at least to the hospital with worrying . paris is divorced mother to a nearly seventeen year old son and the one who always comes to everybodys rescue although she doesnt have a clue as to how to save herself . lewis is the scapegoat and his troubles keep landing him in jail which only seems to confirm what his family thinks he is . out in chicago charlotte knows shes gotten the short end of the stick for years has nothing in common except blood with her parents and siblings and would just as soon divorce them all . janelle the baby of the family is not only on the defensive about the course of her own life but shes facing a new crisis a fast brewing storm with her teenage daughter that threatens more than shes willing to admit . and dont even ask viola about cecil hes a bad habit ive had for thirty eight years which would make him my husband . but cecil has some ideas for taking his hardworking life into his own hands regardless of what his wife and kids think about it . p with her hallmark exuberance and a cast of characters so sassy resilient and full of life that they breathe dream and shout right off the page terry mcmillan has given us a tour de force novel of family healing and redemption . a day late and a dollar short takes us deep into the hearts minds and souls of america and gives us six more friends we never want to leave .
the price family viola the matriarch ; her sometimes husband cecil ; and their four adult children sticks together through lifes most trying circumstances .