In "A Small, Good Thing" by Raymond Carver, Carver introduces to his readers small, good things worth cherishing. "A Small, Good Thing" is a sad story of a couple dealing with the tragic death of their only son, Scotty. Many small and good things bring joy to our lives everyday. Food is one of them. Food can give us comfort at a time of grief or happiness. In this case, food helped the couple with their grief. .
For her son's eighth birthday, Ann went to the bakery to pick out a cake for her son Scotty. She tried to hold a conversation with the baker but he listened to her and didn't say much. He told her the cake would be ready to be picked up on Monday morning. As her son Scotty walked to school on his birthday he was run over by a car but he was able to get up and walk back home. As he told his mother what happened to him he fell asleep on the sofa and wouldn't wake up. .
His mother rushed him to the emergency room and there she and her husband waited for news on their son's condition. The doctor told them that Scotty was fine, he was just in a deep sleep and would wake up any moment. He told them all they could do was wait and be patient. Ann and her husband took turns going home to change their clothes and look after the house. Their grief caused them to forget about the cake they ordered for Scotty. The baker angry he wasted time making this cake prank called their house later at night. .
It was after Scotty died in the hospital when the went home and got another phone call from the baker. Ann finally put one and one together and realized it was the baker making these calls. They drove to the baker to confront him. The baker feels ashamed after he realizes that Scotty died. He doesn't know how to feel them with their pain but offers them food. "You probably need to eat something." the baker says. "I hope you"ll eat some of my hot rolls. You have to eat and keep going.