Part Two, p. 35-56 Summary

Florence, the housekeeper, returns with her two young daughters and teenage son, Bheki. The older of the two daughters is named Hope, and the younger, just a baby, is named Beauty. Florence has brought Bheki because the school in Guguletu township where her family lives is closed, and she fears that Bheki will get into trouble and be hurt by police.

Florence has much work to accomplish in order to get the house back in order after her month-long absence. Florence asks about the homeless man, and the narrator says that his name is Mr. Vercueil. The narrator reassures Florence that if he causes trouble she will ask him to leave.

One day the narrator observes Mr. Vercueil working on the lawn mower in the back yard. The two little girls watch him, and the narrator expects...