Popular Mechanics
Raymond Carver

The irony in this story is that both the man and the woman wanted the baby but in the end neither got what they wanted. The man was leaving and wanted to take the baby with him but the woman refused. They fought and each pulled at the baby. Although, in the story the fact that they killed the baby is not directly mentioned the escalating fight and the last sentence point to the fact that the baby died. "In this manner, the issue was decided." This sentence insinuates that neither parent got the baby because they pulled it apart and it died. This last sentence is the source of the irony in this story. It also provides a bit of an understatement because it is said in such a "matter of fact" way. If the couple did actually kill their baby normally a bigger deal would be made out of it than "in this manner, the issue was decided." The last sentence is so emotionless that it becomes an understatement.