Chapter 20: Nothing Stays Sunk Forever – Summary & Analysis

Spoiler Notice

This chapter summary contains key plot details from Chapter 20: Nothing Stays Sunk Forever of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. If you have not yet finished the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Tova Sullivan sits under a hair dryer at Colette’s Beauty Shop next to Barbara Vanderhoof. Barbara offers condolences for the death of Tova’s brother, Lars, and asks about the funeral home. Tova explains that Lars was living at Charter Village in Bellingham, a facility she describes as clean and well-run. Barbara is surprised she had not heard of Tova’s trip to collect Lars’s personal effects. Tova is aware of Charter Village’s amenities—she has read its brochure multiple times at home—but she feigns ignorance when Barbara shows her an advertisement.

That evening at the aquarium, Tova stops by Terry’s office. Terry offers her a fortune cookie from his takeout container of fried rice. She declines but notices the clutter on his desk, including framed photos of his daughter and his mother, and his university degree. The sight reminds Tova that she has no such photos of her son, Erik, who would have attended the University of Washington had he not died years ago. Terry acknowledges Lars’s death—learned from Ethan Mack—and quickly asks Tova to clean the lobby windows for the busy Fourth of July weekend. She agrees gladly, grateful for the distraction.

Terry picks up a heavy metal clamp from his desk and tells Tova that Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus, has been escaping again. He suspects the octopus is slipping through a gap in his tank; Terry plans to buy wood to cover the gap and then use the clamp to secure the lid. Tova says nothing about the fried rice cartons she has seen in the break room. Terry leaves for the hardware store.

Alone, Tova visits Marcellus’s tank. The octopus is brighter in color tonight. He drifts to the glass, then jets to the back and traces the escape gap with a tentacle. Tova scolds him, then goes to the rear access room. She finds the octopus still inside and decides to give him one last night of freedom, thinking of the clamp. The octopus presses against the glass, arms raised, as if asking to shake hands. Tova climbs onto a chair, unlatches the lid, and extends her hand. Marcellus wraps a tentacle around her arm and gently tugs, making her lean over until her nose nearly touches the water. The octopus prods her freshly done hair, which makes her laugh. He then releases her, vanishes behind a rock, and returns carrying a small gray object: her lost house key from last year. He offers it to her on the tip of an arm.

Key Events

• Tova and Barbara Vanderhoof discuss Lars’s death at the beauty shop; Tova reveals Lars was at Charter Village in Bellingham.
• At the aquarium, Terry asks Tova to clean the lobby windows for the Fourth of July weekend.
• Terry explains that Marcellus has been escaping his tank and shows Tova a clamp he intends to use to secure the lid.
• Tova visits Marcellus, opens his tank cover, and they have a tactile interaction.
• Marcellus returns Tova’s lost house key to her, offering it on a tentacle.

Character Development

Tova Sullivan shows her characteristic composure in public, politely fielding Barbara’s intrusive condolences while keeping her own feelings private. At the aquarium, she finds purpose in a simple cleaning task and demonstrates a growing trust in Marcellus: she removes the lid despite knowing he might escape. Her willingness to take that gamble—and her laugh when the octopus touches her hair—marks a softening of her guarded nature. The return of the house key suggests that Tova’s past (represented by the lost key) is being symbolically restored to her.

Marcellus is revealed to be intelligent and intentional. He not only recognizes Tova but also remembers her previous visits and chooses to give her a meaningful object. His behavior disproves the notion that he is merely a troublesome animal; he has agency and memory.

Terry Bailey is increasingly concerned about the octopus’s escapes, but his trust in Tova remains high—he asks for help and shares his worry. His office photos hint at a rich personal history that contrasts with Tova’s losses.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Loss and Grief – Tova’s exchange with Barbara underscores the social performance of grief. Terry’s degree photo reminds Tova of Erik’s unrealized future. The chapter repeatedly juxtaposes Tova’s losses (Lars, Erik) with the ongoing life around her.

Routine and Purpose – Tova finds comfort in the familiar rituals of the beauty shop and her cleaning duties. The act of wiping windows becomes a welcome distraction, and her job gives her a reason to stay at the aquarium late.

Risk and Trust – Tova consciously decides to open Marcellus’s tank, accepting the possibility that he might escape. This act of trust is reciprocated with the gift of the key, deepening their bond.

Symbol of the House Key – The key represents more than entry to her home; it is an object lost in the past that now resurfaces, perhaps pointing toward secrets that need unlocking or reconnections waiting to happen.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Tova’s relationship with Marcellus, transforming him from a curious animal into a deliberate communicator. The return of the house key is a pivotal moment—it suggests that Marcellus has been observing Tova and that he is capable of returning tokens of significance. It also sets up a mystery: why does he have it, and what else might he know? Meanwhile, Terry’s discovery of the escapes and his plan to clamp the tank raises tension for future chapters, hinting that Marcellus’s freedom may soon end. Tova’s decision to give him “one last night” positions her as an ally to the octopus, aligning her against the aquarium’s authority for the first time.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Tova decide to open the tank lid for Marcellus, even though she suspects he might try to escape? Tova reasons that Marcellus should have one last night of freedom before Terry clamps the lid securely. Her choice reveals growing empathy for the octopus and a willingness to bend rules for a creature she has come to trust. It also shows her defiance of the aquarium’s control, putting her own judgment above Terry’s security measures.

2. What does the returned house key symbolize in this chapter? The key symbolizes recovered connection and hidden knowledge. It was lost a year ago, and Marcellus’s retrieval of it suggests that he has been aware of Tova’s comings and goings. The key may also unlock future revelations—about the night of Erik’s death, about Tova’s past, or about Marcellus’s own story. For Tova, it feels like a gift from a friend, a tangible sign that she is not alone.

3. How does the conversation with Barbara Vanderhoof reveal Tova’s attitude toward grief? Tova is polite but guarded. She tells Barbara she is “quite all right” and notes Barbara’s tendency to insert herself into others’ tragedies. Tova keeps details of her trip to Bellingham private, revealing only what is necessary. Her resistance to Barbara’s sympathy hints that Tova prefers to process grief alone, without the hollow performances of small‑town concern.

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