Cecile a.k.a Nzila Timeline and Summary

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• Before the book starts, Cecile puts her daughters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern in her rearview mirror and heads off to Oakland to live. A couple years later, the girls show up looking to reconnect, but she's not so thrilled.
• Cecile doesn't want kids cramping her style, so she sends them off to the Center every day before having them bring home Chinese takeout for dinner. Cecile claims she wants them to be educated about the Black Power movement, but it's clear she also doesn't want her kids around.
• Finally, Delphine puts her foot down about dinner: They've had enough egg rolls to last a lifetime, and she will start cooking for everyone instead. Cecile goes along with the cooking, but tells Delphine she can be selfish once in a while. Um, okay.
• Everyone is getting ready for a big rally at the Center. Delphine doesn't want to go because she's afraid she (or her sisters) might get hurt. Cecile gets mad at Delphine for being so selfish and cowardly; she tells her to go anyway.
• Cecile gets arrested. She writes poetry, but the cops don't like it so much, so they lock her up.
• In the meantime, the girls go to stay with Hirohito and his mom.
• The three sisters decide to recite one of their mom's poems at the big rally. Delphine knows she has to support the movement now—you know, since her mom is in jail for it and all.
• They get up on stage and say the poem; after, everyone cheers. Luckily, Cecile is released from jail in time to attend, and Delphine's glad her mom got to see her on stage for once.
• That night, Delphine gets angry with Cecile for abandoning them. Cecile tries to explain, but says that Delphine won't really understand until she's older. She's right: Delphine doesn't get it.
• Before they leave to go home to Brooklyn, Delphine gives Cecile a hug. They decide to keep in touch and write each other letters.