Popular Mechanics

The final decision in Popular Mechanics by Raymond Carver is evident in the last lines of the short story. As the couple fights in the beginning, it is as if they have forgotten about the baby that they both have together. It is when the woman sees the picture that she clearly thinks that he might want to take the baby. This is when she quickly runs to get the baby before he does and when the quarreling about who keeps the baby begins. As they both tug and pull at the baby, the father seems to win. "He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard (Carver, 335)." It was with this tug that the father decides he does not want the mother to keep him. His determination lies within wanting to keep their baby and not letting the mother keep it. It is somewhat sad that they are fighting over the baby and in the process physically hurting the baby. It was in this manner, that the issue of who was keeping the baby was decided.