The first-person narrator, who has not yet revealed her name, says that her family have often moved to different houses throughout her childhood. By the time they came to the house on Mango Street, there were six of them: “Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, my sister Nenny and me.” Her parents own the house, but it is far from luxurious. Some of the bricks are crumbling, and there is no front garden. There is only one bathroom and one bedroom for all six family members. Mama and Papa say that they are only living in the house on Mango Street for the time being, until they can move somewhere better, but the narrator is doubtful about this.