The tenements seem bursting with life after the isolation of Pithead. The new third-floor flat is small, and Shuggie is disappointed that his small room would not fit Leek’s bed, too. Agnes promises him tea and apple pastries. Shuggie waits for her, watching the swarming children in the courtyard below. When Agnes returns, she is drunk. She and Shuggie argue about it; she lied to him about getting sober. Agnes goes out to introduce herself to the neighbors, who size her up: she is drunk by lunchtime.

The students at Shuggie’s new school immediately make fun of him. He now knows neither he nor Agnes will get to be brand new. 

A handsome boy named Keir Weir from the tenement drags Shuggie along to meet some girls. Keir tries to get Shuggie to look straighter as they set off. Shuggie lies that he has a girl back in Pithead named Madonna. Keir is naturally skeptical.

Keir manages to convince the girl he likes and her friend, Leanne, to go with them. She will not let them in the house because he got her in trouble with her parents. Keir tells the girls that Shuggie likes Leanne. Waiting for the girls to come out of the house, Shuggie wonders if this is the moment that will make him normal.