The chapter opens with a brief description of the house and its inhabitants. The narrator tells us that the house belongs to his grandmother, who is staying with her parents during the winter. The house is divided into two parts: the first part is reserved for the children, and the second part is for the adults. The room where the children live is separated from the other parts by a ladder leading to the attic. The attic is inconvenient for the insects, because they have to rely on magic to get up there. The chapter ends with the narrator telling us that he's nearly finished tidying up the house. He tells his mom that he hasn't seen anyone for a long time, and that he feels that the adults are ignoring him because he is "too noisy." He tells her that he knows a cool place where he can catch frogs, and he'll take her there in the summer. He asks her why she's been following him, and she tells him that he reminds her of someone. He finally stops following her, and says that he will be leaving soon.