It starts with a simple problem: your tentacle is tangled. You try to untangle it, but it only gets worse. The more you struggle, the more it seems to knot itself into a Gordian knot.
You wonder if you'll ever be able to swim through the ocean without looking like a fish with a bad hair day.
But then, you remember the wise words of the great Mermaid Sage: "A tangled tentacle is just a reflection of your inner state. Untangle your thoughts, and the tentacles will follow."
Or, if you'd rather, you can skip ahead to Chapter 2.
Read the full series for more meditations on the perils of being a mermaid.
Appendix: Tentacle-Untangling Techniques for those who want to dive deeper.
/* Mermaid Tangledness Algorithm (MTA) */
function tangledTentacles(tentacles) {
return tentacles + 1;
}