Frank leaves Laman Griffin’s house and moves in with his uncle, Pat Sheehan, whom he calls Uncle Ab (a shortened version of his nickname, “The Abbott”). To stave off hunger, Frank regularly steals milk and bread deliveries, primarily from the homes of rich residents of Limerick. Frank also takes to going early to the market in Irishtown so he can offer his labor to anyone who will accept it. Despite these hardships, he also gains some independence. He still uses Laman’s library card, and the librarian, who is always glad to see him, eventually offers him a library card of his own.

One day while at the library, Frank stumbles upon a book by Lin Yutang discussing sex in graphic detail. Frank finally discovers that babies do not come from the “Angel on the Seventh Step” as his father told him. When the librarian sees what he’s reading, she is outraged and bans him from the library.

In preparation for a job as a telegram boy, Frank washes his only clothes and hangs them outside to dry. As he waits for them to dry, he puts on his grandmother’s old dress to keep warm. He falls asleep and is awakened later in the night.