Many small and good things bring joy to our lives everyday. Some small, good things include anything from experiences, objects, and people. In A Small, Good Thing by Raymond Carver he re-introduces us to several small, good things worth cherishing in this sad story of a young couple dealing with the tragic, slow death of their young son. He explores the human mistake of taking people for granted, loved ones and strangers alike. Passing over others as though they were nothing special, generalizing their feelings while never noticing the mistake being made. It allows us to see the damage of assumptions and the miracle of change.
             The techniques Carver uses to show the arrogance of the characters are subtle to say the least. The first instances where this occurs are in the opening paragraphs. The mother is inside a small bakery ordering a birthday cake for her son. She thought to herself of how the baker was not a jolly man, and how he seemed uncomfortable. Then she makes the worst assumption of the entire story. As written in the book, she thinks, ¡§everyone, especially someone the baker's age- a man old enough to be her father- must have children who'd gone through this special time of cakes and birthday parties." The baker realizes she is probably thinking what all of his customers assume, he is a happy man. He often feels taken for granted, and he is right. However, the baker is not the only person the mother takes for granted. The author is very careful in his word choice, and he conveys his point well when allowing the mother to be herself. In the same scene as earlier, when ordering the cake for her son, the mother never once uses her son's name. He is referred to as "the boy," a term considered less than affectionate. Why would a caring mother being considerate enough to buy a birthday cake not want to use her son's name? Not surprisingly, the mother is not the only one who makes crazy assumptions and fails to reco...