What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky

For three years, Enebeli Okwara has raised his 11-year-old daughter alone while his wife pursues a master’s degree in America. Initially, the three talked several times a day, and when she returned during a holiday, the reunion was happy. However, the visa difficulties she had returning to the United States made them realize it would be better if she stayed until she finished. Enebeli vetoed her idea of bringing their daughter with her, as he felt he needed her more than his wife. Enebeli has since had some of the discussions that usually occur between a girl and her mother (e.g., sex and menstruation).

One day when the girl is 14, her school calls him in because she has been sending love notes to a boy. Enebeli promises that the note-passing will stop, but he doesn’t want to dampen her spirit. Her mother tries to reprimand her via Skype, but it is ineffective due to the emotional distance that has developed between them.

Both Enebeli and the girl are afraid to reprimand an incompetent house girl, so they each try to do the household chores. The house girl often whispers with the girl, which horrifies Enebeli’s wife, so he sends the house girl away.