Ifeoma is a tomboy and dressing like and acting like a man is getting her into serious trouble at home. On one occasion she is beat up by a guy who sees her out with her sister Imelda. She bumps into this guy by accident and a fight ensues because he has been trying to toast Imelda and feels that Ifeoma is cockblocking. On another occasion their house is stoned by thugs and it appears to be Ifeoma’s fault, although that is never made clear why. Her mother becomes sick with stress and worry and so plans to marry her off as quickly as possible.

She feels that if she gets married and bears children “she will feel more like a woman” and cease her “unruly behaviour.” She cooks up a plot with Ifeoma’s youngest sister to find her a man. Ifeoma is informed of her fate and becomes enraged at her mother’s archaic suggestion. She does not feel ready to marry and also holds the belief that men are only after one thing, which is sex. Being a tomboy she is more interested in being friends with guys, riding motorbikes and watching football. The struggle between mother and daughter has just began and Ifeoma makes the dangerous gamble of running away one night.