Now Julian has a real family, the kind that spends Saturday afternoons doing science homework or watching Tim Burton movies. Daniela has just fallen asleep, and he strains his ears, anticipating his wife’s arrival, but he can only make out, distantly, the hoarse bubbling of the aquarium they set up in the living room a few months ago. Stealthily, Julian approaches Cosmo and Wanda, who continue with their changeless voyage through the dirty water, and he observes them with disproportionate attention, his face to the glass. Suddenly, theatrically, Julian takes on the attitude of a watchman, a fish watcher, a man specially trained to keep fish from leaving aquariums.
“a man specially trained to keep fish from leaving aquariums.” I love it. Can I borrow it? I will anyway.
Read the book. There is much there.