Bad Bad Dad
Barbara
Day Late, Dollar Short
Characters
Potpourri
100
Why does Dad end up in the hospital?
He is beaten to within an inch of his life.
100
Why is Barbara brought along to the grocery store by Dad?
Because she knows what they need to buy, and he doesn't.
100
What does Ralph offer Dad for the car? Why is he so reluctant to accept it?
$75 in food stamps. He doesn't want to be seen accepting handouts.
100
Who is Frank? How does Barbara's interactions with him lead to her being called a "Benedict Arnold."
The brother of Fuzz/a neighborhood kid. She is focused on thinking of ways to get him to talk instead of paying attention to the game they are playing, and ends up making a lot of mistakes.
100
What's wrong with the shoes the Shriners give the kids?
They are all the exact same shoe. In school, every poor kid will be identified by wearing them.
200
Why does Barbara like to hear Dad sing?
He is so awful at singing that she finds it amusing.
200
Barbara believes she is better protected against Dad's rage than her brothers and sisters for what two reasons?
She is Janet's caretaker, and she believes Dad feels guilt over not taking care of her when she was very ill.
200
Why does Dad finally relent and accept the deal Ralph offered him?
Ralph offers to go to the store with them and purchase everything.
200
Who does everyone think is ultimately responsible for Dad's beating?
Uncle Jake.
200
What does Barbara learn about the KKK that causes her to try to burn a cross in her yard?
That they originally went around warning people to take care of their families.
300
What was the one thing Dad wouldn't let his children do?
He wouldn't let them pick on each-other, or make fun of their shortcomings.
300
In August, Barbara takes the $21 she saved and does what with it?
She goes to get a mole removed.
300
What is the business that Dad and Uncle Jake start? What are they paying the kids to do?
Planting/selling gladiolas.
300
What is the purpose of the family's trip to the Shriners?
To get new shoes for the children.
300
Why did Dad have Barbara or David drive him around?
He was afraid to be alone after everything that had happened.
400
What does Dad make John do, that ends with a bloody knot in Dad's forehead.
Dad makes John fire off Shorty.
400
How does Barbara finally manage to afford to get her teeth fixed?
A combination of money she saves from working at the car wash, and contributions from Dad and Mother.
400
Dad and Uncle Jake make a mistake in their latest get rich scheme, almost guaranteeing the whole thing to be a failure. What was the mistake?
They never asked the florists at what time they should cut the gladiolas, by which time most of them are passed the point they can sell them.
400
Who are Duck and P.J.? What do they teach Barbara and her siblings?
Coworkers at Hood's Car Wash. They teach them to dance to pass the time.
400
Dad reveals to Barbara that she had something in common with his first wife, what was it?
They were both "Southpaws." (both left-handed)
500
Dad shows Barbara his two tattoos. What are they/what do they mean?
The first is his "Rose of the Family" for Mother, the other is the name "Margie," Dad's first wife, crossed out.
500
Barbara mentions she often would tighten the elastic strap on her braces to the point her whole body was tense and sore. Why did she do this?
She was afraid that if she failed to make payments on her braces, they would be removed or left to rot in her mouth.
500
After Dad and Uncle Jake's scheme falls apart (again), the children try to make the most out of it. Alice gives them some advice, what is the advice?
To keep some of the money they're making right now, as it's not very likely Dad or Uncle Jake will ever actually pay them.
500
Who are the two men found guilty of assaulting Dad?
Henry Page and Lester Boswell
500
On one of Barbara and Dad's road trips, they meet two men at a bar who had a shared experience with Dad. What was the experience?
They were all in Saipan during World War II.
M
e
n
u