Summary

The short story “Good Girl” by Marita Conlon-McKenna centers on a schoolgirl in Northern Ireland who is getting ready for a date with her boyfriend, Ian. We later learn that Chrissy attends a Catholic school, while Ian attends a Protestant grammar school. The two of them met during a school debate which aimed to bring pupils from the two schools  together and create mutual understanding.

As Chrissy gets ready for her date, her little sister Gemma watches her. Gemma looks up to her big sister and wants to be just like her when she grows up. As Chrissy leaves the house, her older sister, Anna, warns her to be careful about venturing uptown, as she believes that people in Northern Ireland are not safe, even though politicians have signed peace agreements. Chrissy brushes off Anna’s fears, replying that Ian is not a monste...