Summary

When Mrs. Tulsi’s house in Port of Spain is vacated again, Mr. Biswas, Tuttle, and Govind take the opportunity to move their families into rooms of the house, along with Basdai, one of the widows. The Tuttles take up most of the house, leaving Mr. Biswas with two rooms. Basdai inhabits the servants’ quarters, which are outside of the house.

Rivalry among the families begins as they squabble over the behavior of their children, and acquire new, modern possessions. Govind and Tuttle squabble over garage space.

Back at Shorthills, parents are becoming concerned about their children’s education and start sending them to the Port of Spain house to have easier access to the school. Basdai takes the children in as boarders, and they eat on the steps and sleep under the house. With more residents, tight quarters become tighter, and noise and cleanliness become...