In Malagasy, Tsiky means "smile", and it's fair to say that she lives up to her name. However, despite her young age (8), Tsiky has already been through a lot. Her mother died when she was just 5 years old. Some people think it was a curse cast by people who took a dim view of her singular social success. Her mother ran a grocery shop and her father worked for Air France. After his mother's death, his father lost his job and the family went into a tailspin. Money ran out and alcohol began to take its toll.
Fortunately, Tsiky can still find comfort and affection from her aunt and grandmother, who has paid her school fees. For Tsiky, school is a refuge where her kindness and sociability are appreciated. Despite all her difficulties, Tsiky is top of her class. What does she want to be when she grows up? Schoolmistress, of course!