“The Optimist” Summary

On the bus with Bailey, or Crazy Bailey to Beth, an older woman screams at Beth to get a job. Bailey offers Beth a kind of job: He asks for some help with his children. They are teenagers who refuse to get out of bed in the morning to get ready for school. He needs Beth to come over and wake them up after he has left for work. Beth comes to his house each morning, plays loud music, and shouts through the children’s doors that is time to wake up. She feels happy doing this for him because it makes her feel special. Bailey, however, is hoping he is helping her to see that she actually could work. Rachel thinks about the countless conversations with Beth about getting a job or doing volunteer work. Every time, Beth confirms that she does not want to do anything other than ride the buses and live off of her government assistance checks. She always says, “I’d work if I had to, but I don’t have to, so I won’t” (187). Rachel can’t understand this, especially as everyone in their family loves to work.

Bailey tells Rachel that he is trying to build up Beth’s confidence and skills because he thinks she is selling herself short by not working.