TSEHAI (16) bikes through her suburban neighborhood and arrives home to find her mom, GENET (mid-30s), arguing on the phone with her dad, PAUL (40s). She waits until the conversation ends before revealing herself. After forcing Tsehai to clean her room, Genet straightens her daughter's curly hair through an elaborate and intimate process. Paul returns home from work to implore an icy Genet to join his family for lunch. She refuses. As they leave, Tsehai teases her dad about picking fights with her UNCLE JOHN (late-40s). Paul makes no promises but vows not to throw potatoes in his brother's face. At dinner, a dry conversation about dog food with GRAN (70s) and AUNT LINDA (40s) turns into a conservative vs. liberal verbal brawl between John and Paul. The fight hits a fever pitch until John insults Genet. The rest of the table freezes as Paul lunges towards his brother. Back in the car, Tsehai agrees that John deserved it. They arrive home to find Genet and her sisters eating a traditional Ethiopian dinner. Tsehai joins her mom and aunties at the table, but Paul rejects their invitation to join. He returns to his office to work. After joyful small-talk and gentle teasing about everything from boys to grades, Genet slides a CD into a boombox to play upbeat Habesha music. The aunties join her to dance eskista. After resisting their initial calls to join, Tsehai reluctantly begins to dance. Paul cautiously peeks in from the hallway until a thawed Genet flirtatiously draws him close. As everyone dances, the aunties' white gabi blankets sway vivaciously, reflecting the joy and light.
