Chapters 10-12 Summary

While Bogus is flirting awkwardly with Lydia, a young college student from the language lab, Biggie is dealing with the drudgery of being married to Fred "Bogus" Trumper. At the grocery store, Biggie has to put up with the humiliation of being turned away, having bounced too many checks there. She blames this on Bogus's father for not helping them out. As Bogus changes another fuse, he thinks about how his life, though devoid of any great hardships, is instead filled with constant, tiny irritations. After Biggie has gone to sleep, Bogus dictates into his tape recorder. Since he doesn't see Filch outside tonight, Bogus worries that the old man has died. The next morning, Bogus sees Filch, and is so surprised to see him alive, that he drops Colm on the floor.

In the tape recording, Bogus reveals how he...