- Grandma's still upset over the God in the backyard situation and isn't talking to Angela or the boys, which means they can't ask to borrow milk or sugar.
- Angela's friend Bridey Hannon hangs around with Angela while Malachy Sr. goes out to look for work or take long walks.
- The McCourts' neighbors go to Malachy Sr. for help with writing letters. They say he has good handwriting and a way with words.
- Grandma Sheehan takes in a lodger named Bill Galvin, whose wife recently passed away.
- In the mornings, she cooks and delivers Bill's dinner at the limekiln where he works.
- Angela makes a suggestion: Instead of having Grandma Sheehan walk all the way to the limekiln, Frank could deliver his food for a mere sixpence.
- During the first delivery, the smell of the food turns out to be irresistible and hungry Frank eats all of Bill Galvin's dinner.
- When Bill Galvin and Grandma Sheehan find out, they're less than happy, and poor Frank ends up having to deliver Bill's food for two weeks free of charge.
- Angela and Malachy Sr.'s cigarette habit has caused their teeth to rot and fall out. They get false teeth, which they take out each night before going to bed.
- One night, Malachy Jr. and Frank are having a grand time wearing the false teeth until Malachy Jr. gets Dad's teeth stuck in his mouth.
- Malachy Sr. and Frank go to the doctor with Malachy Jr. so they can remove the false teeth.
- Angela decides that Frank should sign up for Irish dancing classes to learn the dances of his ancestors.
- Frank's mortified at the thought of his friends seeing him dragged off to dance classes.
- Frank stops going after the fourth lesson and starts using the money for movies with his friend Billy.
- Eventually Frank's parents find out he's been skipping his dance lessons and they send him to the priest to confess his sins.
- This seems to be their solution for any misbehavior.
- Malachy Sr. tells Frank he's ashamed that he doesn't want to learn the dances that his ancestors fought and died for over the centuries.
- About three years pass and Malachy Sr. still can't keep a job longer than a couple of weeks.
- Frank's schoolmate, Question Quigley, tells him that he must join the confraternity so that Angela can show the St. Vincent de Paul Society what good Catholics they are.
- Malachy Sr. wants Frank to become an altar boy, and has him practice his Latin every night. After Frank's memorized the Mass, they go down to see the official in charge of the altar boys. The official takes one look at Frank in his ragged clothes, tells them they don't have room for him, and slams the door in their faces.