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The next morning, with the help of Missouri (an African-American woman who has worked as a cook for the McKelvas since Laurel's childhood), Laurel manages to get the trapped bird out of the house. She packs her suitcase in preparation for her ride to the airport. When she goes into the kitchen, more memories come to her, and she finds her mother's breadboard that Phil had made for her. At the same time, Fay returns home and is irate that Laurel is still there. They argue about the breadboard and then about the importance of the past, and Laurel comes close to...

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Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...

1. The Optimist's Daughter: Introduction
2. Eudora Welty Biography
3. Summary
   1. Part 1 Summary
   2. Part 2 Summary
   3. Part 3 Summary
   4. Part 4 Summary
4. Themes
5. Style
6. Historical Context
7. Critical Overview
8. Character Analysis
9. Essays and Criticism
10. Compare and Contrast
11. Topics for Further Study
12. Media Adaptations
13. What Do I Read Next?
14. Bibliography and Further Reading
15. Pictures
16. Copyright

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