The day had finally arrived: Our Lady Immaculate College Class of 1998 Graduation. In the assembly hall, graduating class were sat on stage, in their uniforms like usual, while the parents and other family were sat on the main floor. Sister Michael, as per usual, didn't look excited to be there. Slight murmuring was going on as the headmistress approached the podium to address everyone.

"So, here we are once again," she dryly addressed to the audience. "Another term ends and we shift off a bunch of students into the world. Now they'll be someone else's problem."

This remark got some chuckles, but it wasn't really clear if the nun was joking or not.

"Some of you might be aware of us doin' this years ceremony differently," she continued. "Rather than have some faculty member or dull old codger give a speech, we've allowed some students to give speeches. So not that different. I just want to get this over with, so like how we usually give out the diplomas, we'll be doin' the speeches alphabetically. Up first, our class valedictorian, Jenny Joyce. Miss Joyce initially wanted the students in caps and gowns, but I put the kibosh on that when I saw what it would cost."

The crowd slowly clapped as the ever chipper Jenny Joyce made her way to the podium.

"Hey, guys!" she exclaimed in typical her sing songy voice. "I'm so honored to be this year's valedictorian! It was even my idea to give other students the opportunity to give their own speeches!"

"Ever the modest mothefucker," Michelle groaned in her seat, getting some side eyes from the others.

"It truly has been a monumental year," Jenny continued. "The Good Friday Agreement won a landslide victory of people wanting peace throughout! It truly gives one hope for the future! As many of you are no doubt aware, my father, Richard Joyce, is a surgeon at Altnagelvin."

"There it is," Erin sighed.

"He's come home on more than one occasion, downtrodden by the sites of violence he had to witness on the operatin' table. I hope... I hope this agreement will mean less of that now."

Everyone was very surprised with the tonal shift in Jenny's speech, she even appeared to be choking up some.

"So much... so much injury and death. It's made havin' any sort of normal childhood nigh impossible. Ye find yerself puttin' on an air of positivity in order to get through it all. Thankfully, I've had my best friend, Aisling O'Connell, as constant emotional support. Although... even friendship has some bumps along the way."

"Fuck me, if that ain't an understatement," Michelle giggled, everyone else quietly shushing her.

"But... I don't just hope to keep in touch with her after graduation," Jenny continued. "I hope... I hope to keep in touch with every girl from our class. Even the ones with whom we didn't always see eye to eye with. Holdin' onto grudges is... just so silly in the grand scheme of things. We won't ever be truly at peace, if we can't stand together proudly. Thank ye all, very much."

Everyone clapped again as Jenny quickly wiped away her tears.

"Up next, is James Maguire, the first male student graduating from Our Lady Immaculate College!" the valedictorian exclaimed.

The clapping was a mixture of slow and fast as the wee English fella stepped towards the podium. Erin and Cathy being the most enthusiastic clappers, causing Michelle and Deirdre to roll their eyes.

"Hello," he began. "I'm James Edward Maguire."

"He's got a middle name? What the fuck?" Michelle asked.

"Mind blowin', that is," said Orla.

"Edward?" Erin questioned with a confused look.

"Ye didn't know yer fella's middle name?" Clare asked in shock.

"As Jenny pointed out, I'm the first male student to attend Our Lady Immaculate College," he continued. "The reason being, as you can probably guess from my accent, is because I unfortunately happen to be English."

This quip got a wee chuckle from much of the audience, again with Erin and Cathy being the most enthusiastic.

"Jesus, will ye calm the fuck down," Michelle groaned at Erin.

"I am English by birth and upbringing," he continued. "But, I am Northern Irish by blood. My mum, or ma, Cathy Maguire, went to London sometime after becoming pregnant with me. She raised me by herself for many years. It wasn't perfect, but she always made sure I was fed. After going through a divorce, she brought me here to Derry, where I met family I had never met before. It was a culture shock, to say the least. Due to the whole English thing, people were worried about my safety going to the boys school, so here we are. My cousin, Michelle Mallon, and her friends took it upon themselves, no doubt reluctantly, to look after me... in their own way. It's... certainly never been a dull moment with them."

Another chuckle came from the audience, Erin and Cathy again overdoing it a wee bit.

"Fuck's sake, Erin," Michelle groaned.

"My first day going to school here, I witnessed soldiers getting onto the bus to check for any suspicious activity. I'd only heard a little, or wee bit, of The Troubles growing up, so this was quite the shock. To everyone else on the bus, it was any other day. I also wasn't aware of how the English were viewed here. I won't lie and say I haven't received some form of harassment here because of my country of birth, and my accent, even from those related to me. But, In the end, I'm glad my mum brought me to Derry. It helped me discover a new part of myself I don't think I'd ever have found back in England, including lasting friendship... and love.

The wee English fella paused to glance over at Erin. He smirked ever so slightly, which made her blush and smile widely.

"Boke," Michelle groaned.

"That's enough from me," he finished. "Time to hear some no doubt colorful words from my cousin, Michelle Mallon."

The audience clapped as James went to sit back down, he and Michelle shared friendly smirks and she gave him a playful punch on the arm on her way to the podium.

"Right, so you's all are no doubt waitin' for me to talk a lot of shit about this school and all the eejits in it," she began.

"Good God," Erin and Clare groaned.

"Trust me, it crossed my mind when I signed up for this," she continued. "But, I s'pose ye all know those feelin's already. I haven't exactly kept 'em to myself."

This remark got the appropriate chuckles.

"I also haven't exactly been a 'model student'," making air quotes on those last two words. "It's probably shocking to plenty here I didn't get kicked out ages ago. Shocking to me too, if I'm bein' honest. But I graduated, I got that wee piece of paper that proves it. So fuck off to those who didn't think I'd graduate!"

There were audible gasps from those not as familiar with Michelle, while those familiar had their typical eye rolls, groans, and slouching in their chairs from embarrassment.

"I'm willin' to admit I'll miss this school, and even some of the people in it," she continued. "Better or worse, it left an impression on me, and I no doubt left my own impression."

"For years to come," Sister Michael said under her breath.

"Guess that's enough outta me," she chuckled. "Last up, is me best friend, Erin Quinn. She'll no doubt have more eloquent words to share.

More clapping occurred as Michelle sat back with her class, while Erin stood at the podium. She had a deer in headlights stare for a moment, but then felt a wave of calmness when she got a side glance of hee wee English fella.

"So, my speech is from multiple sources, of sorts," she began. "First, is a conversation I had with my Granda at mine and my cousin Orla's 18th birthday party. It was about the, at the time, upcoming Good Friday Agreement. Specifically, the releasin' of paramilitary prisoners. I asked 'What if we do it, and it was all for nothing? What if we vote yes, and it doesn't even work?' And then my Granda says 'What if it does? What if no-one else has to die?'" she continued. "'What if all this becomes a ghost story you'll tell your wains one day? A ghost story they'll hardly believe.'"

Erin took a deep breath, attempting to hold back tears.

"And then, my boyfriend, James Maguire. Mind you, he wasn't my boyfriend just yet," she awkwardly chuckled.

"Fuck me, she's havin' an Uncle Colm moment," Michelle rolled her eyes.

"He interviews me for his documentary," she continues. "That we hope to show everyone in the near future. He asks how it felt to be 18 and an adult. I said 'It's good, exciting, and maybe a wee bit scary too. There's a part of me that wishes everything could just stay the same. That we could all just stay like this forever. There's a part of me that doesn't really want to grow up. I'm not sure I'm ready for it. I'm not sure I'm ready for the world. But things can't stay the same, and they shouldn't. No matter how scary it is, we have to move on, and we have to grow up, because things might just change for the better. So we have to be brave. And if our dreams get broken along the way, we have to make new ones from the pieces.'"

Erin let her tears flow freely now, but she wasn't afraid to let people see.

"The rest I prepared for this moment," she continued as she wiped her tears away. "Our grandparents were born before The Troubles, while our parents, along with their wains, were born into it. I have a wee sister, Anna. She's barely 4 years of age. She's a wain that may forget this all ever happened. I'm honestly grateful for that. She has a chance at a regular childhood. To one day ride to school and not have it inspected by soldiers for bombs. To not have soldiers stop her from walkin' through these city walls. That gives me so much hope, which is more powerful than some people realize. It gives us the courage to believe something better will come along."

Erin wiped away a some more tears, and took another deep breath.

"Hope also gives one the courage to be bold," she continued. "To take that deep dive into the unknown."

She then turned to look at her friends, walking towards them with the microphone in hand. Nobody knew where she was going with this.

"My friends have been there for me through all the good times and the bad," she went on. "But.. I especially wanna give attention to James, my wee English fella."

"Seriously, I'm gonna fuckin' boke," Michelle said as she slid in her chair slightly.

Erin held her free hand out, which James grabbed onto.

From their seats, the Quinn's looked very confused.

"What in under God is she gettin' at?" Mary asked Gerry, who merely shrugged.

"James, I love ye more than I've ever thought I could love someone outside my own family," said Erin, a big smile forming on her face. "Ye make every day so much better by bein' in it. And… I want ye to always be part of it."

She then got down on one knee, her friend's eyes ready to pop out of their skulls.

"Sweet Jesus, she isn't!" Clare quietly shrieked.

"Fuck me," Michelle whispered.

"Grand," Orla said with sheer anticipation.

"James Edward Maguire," she continued. "Will ye marry me!?"

There was absolute dead silence in that auditorium. The wee English fella sat there frozen a moment, a very shocked look plastered on his face. But a loving smile soon formed on his face, as he surprised his beloved Derry Girl with an embrace.

"Yes!" He exclaimed. "Absolutely I will!"

Applause burst out and many stood up as soon as they heard the answer.

"Oh my god!" Orla, Clare, and Michelle exclaimed in unison.

He then spun his now fiancé around, making them both laugh, and they finally shared a passionate kiss. They parted lips, their foreheads touching, they were tearing up with joy. Their friends joined them in a loving embrace, all smiling big.

"I love ye, James," said Erin.

"I love you, Erin," said James.

"Erin Josephine Quinn!" Mary shouted from the audience seats.

The Girls all turned to see the Quinn matriarch, her face was as red as a tomato.

"Fuck-a-doodle-do!" Orla exclaimed with a giant grin, shocking everyone who heard.

Erin and James burst out laughing. They knew they were in for a verbal assault, but they were far too happy to care, sharing another passionate kiss.

Continued in "Impossible Not to Do"