Junior, a young nine year old boy, lives in Caracas in a shoddy apartment complex with his mother and baby brother. He has "pelo malo," a Hispanic term for curly, Afro-textured hair, which he constantly attempts to straighten using various methods, including smearing a mixture of mayonnaise and other ingredients into it. His hair is a constant source of frustration for both he and his mother, who does not approve of his obsession with his looks, believing that it's not normal behavior for a young boy his age.