Remarkably Bright Creatures Day 1,299 of My Captivity—June Gloom Summary & Analysis

Day 1,299 of My Captivity

Marcellus introduces himself as a giant Pacific Octopus, living captive in a tank made to imitate his dwellings in the sea. He explains that he can read, camouflage, and do other intelligent things humans wouldn’t expect. He also states that, because the average life span of a giant Pacific Octopus is approximately four years, he will die within the next 160 days.

The Silver Dollar Scar

Tova Sullivan is at her job, cleaning the floors of the Sowell Bay Aquarium. At seventy years old, she is the aquarium’s oldest employee. She greets the animals as she cleans, and at the end of her shift she finds takeout cartons from the trash can scattered over the floor. She realizes that the aquarium’s octopus has escaped his tank, eaten the takeout food, and is now tangled in power cords beneath a table. With care, she untangles him and he wraps a tentacle around her arm before scooting off back to his tank. Unsure if it happened at all, Tova leaves the aquarium and sits on her usual bench on the pier, examining the sucker-marks left on her arm and thinking about her lost son, Erik.

Day 1,300 of My Captivity

Marcellus ruminates on the food he is fed at the aquarium, and says that he often leaves his tank to eat from other exhibits. He mentions nearly dying on tonight’s expedition, and how Tova saved his life.

Falsehood Cookies

Tova goes to have her weekly tea with the Knit-Wits, a club of four older women who used to knit together but now drink tea and chat. Janice Kim, Barb Vanderhoof, and Mary Ann Minetti ask after the marks on Tova’s arm and she lies to them. The other women talk about their lives and families while Tova goes to the bathroom, thinking about her husband and Erik. She remembers Erik’s disappearance, how his boat washed ashore one night with the anchor cut, but she refuses to believe he killed himself. As Tova is leaving, Mary Ann asks if she needs help; Tova spurns the offer, saying she is fine. When she gets home she receives a message from Charter Village Long-Term Care Center informing her that her brother, Lars, has died.

Day 1,301 of My Captivity

Marcellus reveals how he escapes his tank, and recounts a time when he nearly died on a trip out to eat halibut and the door closed behind him, reminding him that he is ultimately imprisoned.

The Welina Mobile Park is for Lovers

Cameron Cassmore borrows his friend Brad’s truck to help prune his Aunt Jeanne’s garden at her trailer park. When he arrives, he defends her against Jimmy Delmonico, the landlord who wants her to take down her clematis plant. Cameron intimidates him, and Delmonico backs off. They spend the rest of the morning gardening and drinking coffee in Aunt Jeanne’s junk-filled trailer. In response to his aunt’s queries, Cameron admits to getting fired from his job and talks about his girlfriend Katie. He thinks about his mother, a drug addict who left him with his aunt when he was nine years old, and how he never knew who his father was. Before he leaves, Aunt Jeanne gives him a box of his mother’s things.

Day 1,302 of My Captivity

Marcellus is examined by Terry and Dr. Santiago, and they wonder why he is mysteriously gaining so much weight.

June Gloom

Tova goes to Shop-Way, where she speaks to the cashier and owner, Ethan Mack. He offers his condolences for her brother and tells her he’s there if she needs anything. Her estrangement from Lars after Erik’s death is recounted, and she leaves the store as Ethan again offers his help whenever she needs it. Tova goes home to find a cat scratching at her door. She names it Cat, and sets out a plate of casserole for it to eat while she sits on the porch, listening to the weather channel on TV.

Next section Chasing a Lass—Day 1,309 of My Captivity