This is a layered monolog; you start with a warning to the reader that you will be exposing a cliche in favor or the truth. But then you distract us with that “Norman Rockwell” vision of Christmas and families. I’m reading this and thinking, “Say what?”

But then you begin to unravel the cliche, pull back the layers of falsity.

Expertly done.

From “troubles” and “dust ups” but they “have to take you in,” to, the stateent “But that’s not how it works,” and the narrator explains to us exactly how it does work.

The imagery of the fish at the end, reflecting the Christmas drive-by inside-outside imagery above, then finishes up the journey to the truth; or the truth as the narrator sees it. The fish can’t breath “out there,” and HAS to stay “inside,” or he’ll die. The narrator has converted the human family into a different species from himself. He’s the human being because he has chosen freedom.

At least that’s what I got out of the story! This resonates with me, so I’m probably seeing what I need to see. But that’s the mark of a great piece of writing, it means what it has to mean, to different readers.

Utterly depressing but lovely writing.