Day 1,300 of My Captivity

Summary

• The chapter is written from the perspective of a giant Pacific octopus held in captivity.
• According to the plaque in the aquarium, the diet given to the octopus is mackerel, halibut, and predominantly, herring, which the octopus finds displeasing.
• The octopus feels the quality of its food is due to cost-effectiveness measures, as it observes the aquarium's sharks are given fresh grouper.
• It yearns for the wide variety of fresh seafood available in the wild, such as oysters, crabs, and sea cucumbers.
• The sea creature is sometimes offered a scallop for cooperation, or an occasional mussel from a worker named Terry.
• Despite its displeasure with its given meals, the octopus is able to sample more preferred foods like crabs, clams, and shrimp, by fetching them after hours.
• Fish eggs are described by the octopus as an ideal snack due to taste and nutritional value.
• The octopus humorously criticizes the food choices that humans typically like, drawing attention to a vending machine
• However, one night, the octopus encounters a delicious smell originating from a tossed-out food container and savors it.
• The chapter concludes with the octopus noting it had a near downfall from consuming the food but was saved by something or someone referred to as "the cleaning woman".