- Teaching brings some happiness to Augie.
- Kayo Obermark teaches Latin and algebra at the same school. Kayo has a son.
- He tells Augie to get married.
- Augie says he wants to and has even dreamed of it.
- The latest dream wasn't so pleasant: his wife in the dream gave birth to a calf and a bug.
- Kayo invites Augie to his home.
- Kayo's brother-in-law asks Augie about buying the Buick. Augie sells it to him, but doesn't mention the bent rods.
- They play poker afterwards—an attempt to swindle Augie out of the money for the car. Augie beats them.
- He refunds Kayo's losses on the way home.
- Two days later Augie has to fetch the car because it won't start. There's a scene and his friendship with Kayo is hurt for a time.
- Sophie Geratis, the woman from his union days, wants to divorce her husband and marry Augie.
- He's not prepared for commitment.
- She's hurt and assumes he wants someone else.
- Clem Tambow tells Augie that he's going out into professional life as a counselor.
- Augie just wants something of his own and a place of his own. He wants to simplify and not be some exemplary man—get married, have kids, maybe start a school.
- But, then, the war breaks out and Augie gets carried away as usual.
- Augie goes to enlist, but learns he needs surgery from his injury in Mexico.
- The operation is difficult on him.
- Sophie is sad that he'll be leaving.
- Simon gives him grief for not going to a private hospital.
- Augie gets word that Thea has married an Air Force captain.
- His older brother has been seeing a mistress.
- Augie feels bad for Charlotte.
- He runs into Simon and his mistress while he's out with Mama.
- When they're alone, Simon tells Augie that he loves the girl, Renée.
- Charlotte can do the same as far as he's concerned. If she can't, well, that's her problem.
- Renée tells Augie she loves his brother and always will.
- She also says that Simon loves and watches over Augie.
- Simon talks about Charlotte a lot around Renée—to remind her that she doesn't have exclusive hold on him.
- Augie realizes he did the same with Thea and Stella.
- Augie sees Simon yell at Renée for not going to the doctor.
- Impatient, Augie wants to recover from the hernia so he can go to war.
- He's not acceptable to the Army or the Navy, so he signs up with the Merchant Marines.
- He and Simon have lunch. Renée had tried to commit suicide, Simon tells him. And Charlotte confronted him about Renée.
- Augie pities him.
- Flashback:
- Simon tells Renée it's over. She screams, threatens to take him to court, then faints.
- Simon's lawyer calls a meeting for Renée and Simon to work the matter out.
- Charlotte shows up. Renée curses her. Charlotte slaps her. Then Simon slaps her. Then they all cry.
- Renée agrees to go away to California if paid off.
- She goes.
- Later she calls. She's pregnant.
- She attempts suicide at four months pregnant.
- Simon says that maybe this is how he, Augie, and George came into the world.
- Augie tries to comfort him.