Summarizer; Chapter 3

After the deaths of three of her children, the McCourts are now only getting sixteen shillings a week from Public assistance services like the Saint Vincent de paul society because of the death of Oliver and Eugene. The family tries to start over and move into a new house since the last one reminds Angela too much of the twins. The family soon realizes that this new house holds ten families, and their apartment is next to the one bathroom, and regularly floods. The children re-name the upstairs part of their house 'Italy' because it is like a vacation since it is dry and warm.

In the upcoming days is Christmas which is also includes struggles because the family can only afford a pig's head which is considered shameful to eat on Christmas. Another son Michael is later born, Frank is still young and doesn't understand birth so his parents tell his that there is an Angel on the seventh step of the house that brought him. Throughout this chapter Frank talks to the 'angel on the seventh step' about his problems, and what he doesn't like about school, and about how he feels on a daily basis.

Baby Michael stays healthy and Malchy Sr. gets a job at the Limerick Cement factory, and it seems like things are looking up for the McCourts, except that Malachy Sr. drinks his money as usual and comes home drunk. When coming home he has three penny's left and offers each one to each son but all reject it except Michael who is now about two and still doesn't understand. Malachy Sr. misses work the next day, loses his job and the family is back on public assistance.

-Donna Wylie