I thought that maybe this was going to be just a happy little birthday party story. Then it wasn't. It was better.
Halfway through, the slow simple sentences built tension to the point that I wasn't sure if it would be a better story if the boy died or if he woke up and was fine for a while, and/or then died... I really enjoyed how straightforward the sentences were. At times I thought, well he's gotta die, but then Carver seemed to give just enough doubt that I wanted the boy to pull through for these sad folks.
It was clear halfway through that the story was going to be about loss to some degree, if not the loss of life, then definitely the loss of childhood, or hope. So my predictions as I read mostly came true. I was pleasantly surprised at the baker's being awakened from his sad life by the family. They shared a moment, and pain, and loneliness-some fresh and some that had grown for a long time into a disconnection.
I looked of course for the small, good thing until it showed up, and was pleasantly surprised by what it was. I'll write more about that in my second response.
The story also had a lot to say about waiting. I'll share with your guys a short piece I wrote for Cercone on the topic of waiting. A painful, helpless, anxious feeling.
I think I may have missed the point that you made that the "baker's being awakened from his sad life by the family." He admits that he thinks he had forgotten how to act around people, and I think you are right that it is more important than that. Could it be a catalyst for change in his life too?
ReplyDeleteYeah. Exactly. That this tragedy and the stupid cake, and the crazy phone calls caused Ann and Howard to angrily interrupt his repetitive life, and they sat all together, and began to move to something new. Or maybe just that the baker seemed to have very little to do and no one to talk to, and just talking to someone has changed his life for the better, even though it is through tragedy.
ReplyDeleteAdam, I think you bring up a good point in your comment when you say that Ann and Howard angirly interrupt his repetitive life. I think this is why the ending is so well done... because all three characters are finding solace in food and conversation.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you guys think of the way Carver had the boy die? I think it's interesting how he shows a glimmer of life before passing away. We are given a sign of hope... and then that sign is crushed by death.