Story at a glance
- Adjoa, 7, narrator; born in Hasodzi, Central Region, Ghana; lives with Maami (mother) and Nana (grandmother); father absent.
- Adults' puzzling rules: "never, never, but NEVER" repeat this — or laughter and repetition to friends.
- Legs debate: Nana — too thin/slender and long; cannot support child-bearing hips; a woman's role is marriage and children. Maami defends quietly. Adjoa sees nothing wrong.
- School: Maami (unlettered) insists; Nana — a waste of time; Adjoa walks 5 km; "school is nice".
- Secret runner → selected for the junior section of the district sports; Nana checks at the school.
- Nana irons the uniform daily (borrowed charcoal iron); walks to school to watch.
- Adjoa wins the cup for best all-round junior athlete; Nana carries it on her back like a baby; thin legs are good for other things.
- Adjoa: she had felt and thought so all along; Maami speechless.
Common traps
| Trap | Correct idea |
|---|---|
| Nana disliked the legs because they were short | They were slender (2025 specimen). |
| Nana wanted Adjoa in school | Maami insisted; Nana thought it a waste of time. |
| Adjoa's final thought: she knew she would win | She knew her legs were useful for more than child-bearing (2027 specimen). |
| Maami carried the cup | Nana carried it, on her back like a baby. |
| Adjoa boasted about her running | She never mentioned it at home. |
| The story is told by Nana | Adjoa, a seven-year-old, narrates. |