Today's Uplifting Story Will Be a Quiet DaySome readers see death, but when I read the story "Today Will Be a Quiet Day Quiet" by Amy Hempel, I find it to be a light and direct account of people facing a transition. Even its placement in the table of contents under the heading “Childhood and Adolescence” (Barnet) implies that the story is not about death at all. A newly defined family of a man, a boy and a girl face the aftermath of divorce and explore the intricacies of life among themselves. The story gives us a sublime yet vivid insight into the transition and adjustments these three people make in this story. The children's transition is marked by a rivalry, which surfaces early in the story and is described through delightful jokes and one-liners. Children's jokes alleviate the stress created by the small, unknown steps they take to establish a new type of relationship with their father in their mother's absence. At no point do the children's harmless antics toward each other escalate, as critic Tara Baker indicates when she explains that their arguments become deeper than the usual childish squabbles. Baker seems to believe that the tensions between the children are fueled by the difficult situations they have faced recently (170). Brian Motzenbecker supports my idea that the parents are divorced, but he finds symbolism in the children's discussions and the father's "jokes." " (174). I can suggest instead that these stories within the story are significant but not at all symbolic. The rapid succession of jumps from one topic to another suggests to me that the need for uninterrupted conversation is necessary This prevents everyone simultaneously from being in the middle of the paper, fortunately thanks to the father who can integrate the events of the entire day into his affirmation The natural resilience shown by his children is admirable and probably has a lot to do with it. the way he and their mother raised them. They show a form of frustration that is both contained and civilized. They avoid expressing their emotions too much throughout the story. Their lives continue, and at this point, I am. sure that the children know that even their father will be “fine”. Work cited Baker, Tara. “Is Today Really Quiet?” Ed. Connie Bellamy: Gann Designs. 1997.Hemple, Amy. “Today Will Be a Quiet Day.” Harper's Fiction Anthology. Ed. Sylvain Barnett. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Motzenbecker, Brian. “Does this mean disaster?” Ode to friendship. Ed. Connie Bellamy. Virginia Beach: Gann Designs, 1997.