A Happier Tomorrow in Today Will Be a Quiet Day Essay

A Happier Tomorrow in Today Will Be a Quiet Day Essay

A Happier Tomorrow in Today Will Be a Quiet Day



In the story "Today Will Be a Quiet Day" written by Amy Hempel, one may be inclined to believe that there is a tone of depression or sadness among the father and the two children. This is shown in the opening sentence, while the three are stalled in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. The boy states, "I think if the quake hit now the bridge would collapse and the ramps would be left" (Hempel 1202). We also learn that the boy had a best friend who committed suicide about a year before. Finally, the fact that a mother is not mentioned leaves the reader with a suspicion that the parents may be divorced, separated, or even worse, the mother may be deceased. Even though these incidents ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...This is shown throughout the car ride when the boy and girl are telling jokes, and the boy constantly recites humorous bumper stickers. Another example of the father's attempt to have fun with his children is his initial plan to attend the arm wrestling tournament. This is shot down by the children, but they still find an interesting place to have a nice lunch. The day proved to be a fun and relaxing day for the family, and hinted that less disastrous times are in store for them.



Next, the fact that the daughter has just received her driver's license is a step towards happier times. Driving on her own is probably one of the most exciting times of her life, and she makes it known to her family that she received the highest grade in the class. The father trusts her and lets her drive all the way home, which raises her confidence and shows the trusting relationship between the father and daughter. Another example which shows happier times coming to the family is when the father tells the children that he has both good and bad news. He goes on to ask which would the children prefer to hear first. The daughter immediately answers that she wishes to hear the bad first. This is surprising to her father, but it shows that she is beginning to mature. The father is glad to hear that the daughter can handle the bad news, when earlier the truth had to be hidden from her, like the death of the dog. This shows how naive the daughter was in her younger years, and now that she has

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