It all began with a dare. The idea of sneaking into the Protestant area to daub slogans under the mural of King Billy seems thrilling and exciting to Kevin and his Catholic friends. But feelings run high in Belfast and in the end paint-splashing turns into something far more dangerous. The only good thing to come out of the reckless trip is that it brings Kevin into contact with Sadie Jackson – and that is to change his life. This is the first of Joan Lingard’s stories about the young Belfast couple who try to make a new life for themselves.