Remarkably Bright Creatures The Technically True Story—Day 1,322 of My Captivity Summary & Analysis

Summary

The Technically True Story

Cat has started coming into Tova’s house through a gap in the screen door, and Tova makes peace with it. Back at the aquarium she climbs onto a stool above Marcellus’s tank to chat with him—she talks about the Knit-Wits and their gossip, fond memories of Erik, and Erik’s death, restating that she didn’t believe he killed himself. She admits that she had fought with him before he died, having forced him to work the ticket booth by the pier. While she is talking and cleaning his tank, she falls off the stool, injuring her ankle and breaking the stool. Marcellus leaves his tank and retrieves the stool’s missing screw for her before going back to the tank. The next morning her ankle is clearly injured, so she makes an appointment with her doctor and reluctantly calls out of work for the first time.

Got Baggage?

Cameron flies to Washington but discovers upon landing that the airline has lost the bag containing the jewelry he planned on selling to pay for room and board on his trip. While in the line to recover it he meets Elliot, a loquacious traveler who shares his sandwich with Cameron. Embarrassed, broke, and desperate, Cameron calls Aunt Jeanne to tell her of his plan and misfortune, and Aunt Jeanne agrees to send him some money. Elliot tells Cameron about his friend who is selling a camper van, and Cameron decides to use most of the two thousand dollars Aunt Jean loans him to buy it.

Busted but Loyal

Tova recalls a time when Erik was young and brought home a crippled rock crab from the beach. She compares herself to the crab after going to the doctor and returning with a boot for her sprained ankle. Janice comes over unexpectedly to deliver a casserole and invite Tova to Mary Ann’s going-away party, telling her that Mary Ann has decided to move in with her daughter in Spokane. Before she leaves, Janice gives the resistant Tova a cell phone, telling her the Knit-Wits decided she needs one in case of emergencies. While Tova is taking the casserole out of the oven that night, the phone buzzes, surprising her and causing her to fall. Tova reflects on her husband’s cancer and how she needed to take care of him. She wonders who will take care of her, and decides to apply to Charter Village.

House Special

Cameron drives to Sowell Bay in his new camper, which is clearly in bad shape; he has eight hundred dollars left after buying it. He goes straight to Brinks Development, but upon finding it closed decides to get food at Shop-Way, where he meets Ethan. Ethan gives him breakfast on the house and sits down to chat with Cameron, learning about his plight. Afterwards, when Cameron discovers the camper has a flat tire in the parking lot, Ethan comes out to help him and officially introduce himself.

Day 1,322 of My Captivity

Marcellus complains about how dirty the glass of his tank is becoming without Tova to clean it. He explains that octopuses have three hearts, and considers the human expression “my heart skipped a beat” after watching Tova’s accident. He hopes she is alright.

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