Dropped off by Danny’s grandfather’s lawyer, Danny and Pilon examine one of the houses Danny inherited. It is dilapidated but has some promising features such as flowers growing in the front yard. Pilon declares it to be bigger and better than the other one, so this is where they will live.

As they enter, they see that it remains as the viejo left it. It has three rooms, a bed, and a stove. Pilon believes that they will be happy there, but Danny is now burdened with the ownership of property. Pilon turns on the water faucet, but no water comes out. He says that Danny must have the water turned on. Danny tells him that he wishes Pilon had inherited it so that he could come to live with him instead.

As Danny goes to Monterey to have the water turned on, Pilon investigates the back yard. It is littered with trash and weeds but has some fruit trees and chicken coops that Pilon finds promising. He looks over the fence to Mrs. Morales’ back yard and sees some chickens. He makes some holes in the fence, kindly thinking that the hens would like to make nests in the tall weeds.

When Danny returns, he is irate that the city wants a three dollar deposit for the water. Pilon figures that three dollars is three dollars of wine, but Danny says that they do not have the three dollars to begin with.

As the afternoon passes, Danny tells Pilon to clean up the back yard and cut down the weeds, but Pilon tells him of his plan concerning Mrs. Morales’ chickens. Danny agrees, grateful that he has Pilon there, but Pilon begins to feel that he is getting into Danny’s debt as he goes out to find food. He follows a rooster down the road, managing to catch and kill it in the woods. He dresses it there, believing that no feathers, head, or feet should come into the house as the chicken could be identified by those.

The two friends spend the evening pleasantly. There is a small fire of pine cones, and the rain leaks through the roof only in places where no one wants to sit anyway. Danny ponders his ownership of two houses, stating that he cannot sleep in both. Pilon suggests that he rent one himself for ten dollars a month. Danny says it is a fine house worth fifteen dollars a month. Pilon agrees, even though he has never had fifteen dollars at one time.