As Agnes and Eugene’s relationship begins to cool, Shuggie and Leek fear she will go back to drinking. A black taxi is parked outside the house when Shuggie returns home from school on his eleventh birthday. The door is locked, and Shuggie knows what that means. When the door opens, Shuggie is face to face with Shug. They have not seen each other in three years. Shug scoffs at Shuggie’s Campbell nose, gives him some money, and asks if he is chasing girls yet before leaving. Shuggie throws a pair of football boots Shug left for him into the bog. Shuggie finds Agnes sitting in a daze on the bed, a bag of Special Brew by her feet.

After hearing no news of Agnes for over a year, Shug decided to check up on her. He brought a pair of football boots he received for free to give to Shuggie; he could use this as a pretext. Shug managed to convince Agnes to let him in, calling her the love of his life. Agnes treated him coldly as they had tea together. Shug told her that Catherine is expecting a child. Shug snooped around the house before Agnes kicked him out.