短篇讽刺小说《大众力学》PopularMechanicsbyRaymondCarverEarlythatdaytheweatherturnedandthesnowwasmeltingintodirtywater.Streaksofitrandownfromthelittleshoulder-highwindowthatfacedthebackyard.Carsslushedbyonthestreetoutside,whereitwasgettingdark.Butitwasgettingdarkontheinsidetoo.Hewasinthebedroompushingclothesintoasuitcasewhenshecametothedoor.I'mgladyou'releaving!I'mgladyou'releaving!shesaid.Doyouhear?Hekeptonputtinghisthingsintothesuitcase.Sonofabitch!I'msogladyou'releaving!Shebegantocry.Youcan'tevenlookmeintheface,canyou?Thenshenoticedthebaby'spictureonthebedandpickeditup.Helookedatherandshewipedhereyesandstaredathimbeforeturningandgoingbacktothelivingroom.Bringthatback,hesaid.Justgetyourthingsandgetout,shesaid.Hedidnotanswer.Hefastenedthesuitcase,putonhiscoat,lookedaroundthebedroombeforeturningoffthelight.Thenhewentouttothelivingroom.Shestoodinthedoorwayofthelittlekitchen,holdingthebaby.Iwantthebaby,hesaid.Areyoucrazy?No,butIwantthebaby.I'llgetsomeonetocomebyforhisthings.You'renottouchingthisbaby,shesaid.Thebabyhadbeguntocryandsheuncoveredtheblanketfromaroundhishead.Oh,oh,shesaid,lookingatthebaby.Hemovedtowardher.ForGod'ssake!shesaid.Shetookastepbackintothekitchen.Iwantthebaby.Getoutofhere!Sheturnedandtriedtoholdthebabyoverinacornerbehindthestove.Buthecameup.Hereachedacrossthestoveandtightenedhishandsonthebaby.Letgoofhim,hesaid.Getaway,getaway!shecried.Thebabywasred-facedandscreaming.Inthescuffletheyknockeddownaflowerpotthathungbehindthestove.Hecrowdedherintothewallthen,tryingtobreakhergrip.Heheldontothebabyandpushedwithallhisweight.Letgoofhim,hesaid.Don't,shesaid.You'rehurtingthebaby,shesaid.I'mnothurtingthebaby,hesaid.Thekitchenwindowgavenolight.Inthenear-darkheworkedonherfistedfingerswithonehandandwiththeotherhandhegrippedthescreamingbabyupunderanarmneartheshoulder.Shefeltherfingersbeingforcedopen.Shefeltthebabygoingfromher.No!shescreamedjustasherhandscameloose.Shewouldhaveit,thisbaby.Shegrabbedforthebaby'sotherarm.Shecaughtthebabyaroundthewristandleanedback.Buthewouldnotletgo.Hefeltthebabyslippingoutofhishandsandhepulledbackveryhard.Inthismanner,theissuewasdecided.
