Sarahs father makes the unusual decision to raise his daughter as though she were a boy; he had been expecting a son, but instead he welcomes a baby girl. Surrounded by boys as she grows up in Manchester, Sarah feels like one of them, and her parents often share a laugh over her pretty, distinctly feminine name. She adopts a sporty, tomboyish lookjeans, baggy shirts, simple ponytail. If someone happened to miss her long ponytail and only glimpsed the muddy chaos left behind after she played rough and tumble games outdoors, youd never guess she was a girl. Despite this upbringing, during her university years, Sarah blossoms into a poised and sophisticated young woman.
One evening, Sarah is invited to a classmates birthday party in London. Her mother is hesitant to let her go out late into the night, but eventually relents, agreeing on the condition that Sarah keeps her updated through the evening. Wanting to experience a proper party, this time Sarah dons a bold red mini dress and delicate high heels, looking as feminine as ever. When her father sees her before she leaves, he cant help but shed a tear; he had always pictured his girl as a resilient, tough figure, not this delicate young woman.
On her way home from the party, Sarah finds herself in a threatening situation with three drunken men. Before they can harm her, an unlikely hero emergesa tall young man wielding what appears to be a cricket bat. The would-be attackers scatter at the sight of him, and Sarah is both relieved and deeply grateful to Tom, her rescuer.
Tom and Sarah get to know each other and soon begin dating. Eventually, they marry. Sarah becomes a physical education teacher, while Tom takes up a respected position in the energy sector. Their love story is flavoured with deep respect and mutual understanding. Together, they have a daughter. Although Tom holds traditional views about femininity, he encourages their daughter to grow into a strong, confident woman, always backing her dreams. His wife is happy to share this approach, and Sarahs father, at last, finds in Tom the son-in-law hed always hoped for.
