The New Girl:
How People in the Story React to the Main Character

People Who Knew Chris Before

Family Members

There is a large extended family, and most of them know about Chris, thanks to a certain aunt who talks too much. After word of the gender change has gotten out, everyone is put in the uncomfortable position of having to decide what to think about Chris, and how to deal with her.

Aunt Beth is, to say the least, rather eccentric. She was one of the first in the relatives to learn that Chris was sexually and genetically ambiguous. In fact, she was the one who blabbed it to the rest of the family. When she learned that the family was contemplating a gender change, she was genuinely enthusiastic about it. She even took Chris aside, and said how she would love to see Chris as a girl, and how great it would be to go shopping with her for clothes and other girl things. Chris, understandably, did not appreciate hearing such encouragement.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Delores meet Chris and her family only about two weeks after her change. When Chris and her family stop for a visit, the two are so uncomfortable with the situation that they fail to acknowledge that there is anything different about Chris, except she has grown a lot. It is clear that they are dubious about their nephew becoming their niece. Chris feels obliged to assure them that she really does prefer to be a girl, even though she is not yet sure of that herself. However, they do show their love by assuring the Harris family their support, however the situation plays itself out.

Joyce is Chris's cousin, and is about ten years older than her. She has not only accepted Chris's gender change: She has actively worked to try to convince other members of the extended family to accept it too. When Chris is sixteen, she carries this support to a new level by asking both her and her sister to be bridesmaids at her wedding. This sets up a difficult situation for Chris, because she knows a lot of the family have not accepted her new identity. The difficult and painful events that transpire do lead to Chris to a more positive relationship with most of the family, but it still is something she would have preferred to avoid.

Jerry Jones is one of the wedding guests and Chris's cousin. He is a big, good-natured guy a couple of years older than Chris. He handles the whole situation in a way what Chris greatly appreciates. He acknowledges her new identity, lets her know that it's all right with him, and never says anything more about it. Also, as you see below, he is very willing to stick up for her.

Justin Peterson is another of the guests at the wedding. His parents are religious fundamentalists who are completely against gender change for any reason. Justin has picked up on their attitudes, and has seen them as a green light to do everything he can to torment Chris and turn other family members against her. This matter comes to a head during a family softball game. Justin wisely backs off after being threatened with a pounding by Chris, her very athletic older sister, and Jerry.

Aaron is a really cool, good-looking cousin attending the wedding. At the softball game, he joins Justin and the other boys making fun of Chris. He dares her to try to strike him out. She responds by doing just that. He quickly changes his attitude upon seeing her pitching skills, and how she stands up to those making fun of her. Later, at the wedding dance, he surprises her by apologizing and asking her to dance. Twice.

Jane is a cousin of Chris, about her age. She is another one of the girls who is supposed to be a bridesmaid. She had never expressed any misgivings about Chris before the wedding. She becomes acquainted with two bridesmaids from the groom's family. These girls, by their actions, show that they do not approve of Chris. Jane is reluctant to make herself look bad in their eyes by sticking up for Chris. Only when Chris's sister calls her over to join them, does she make the choice to take Chris's side.

Non-Family Members

Mr. Crawford is one of the few non-relatives to witness Chris's transformation. This is the result of a chance encounter with the Harris family at the train station just before they leave for California. When he first sees Christine, he does not recognize her. Her parents explain that she has been such a tomboy, that a lot of people have mistaken her for a boy. Even though he has seen Christopher a good number of times, he pretty much has to accept that explanation. He might have second thoughts about this whole thing later, but probably has the attitude that he does not really want to know.

Ben Murry was Christopher's best friend some years back, until he and his father moved away. By chance they meet again in a Sunday school class a couple of years after the gender change. His first reaction is one of total amazement. After Chris explains it to him, and asks if she can tell people he is her boyfriend, he is more than willing. In fact, he is immediately romantically attracted to her. Ben is the type of kid who believes he has virtually no prospect of having a romantic relationship with any girl. Such boys are not very particular when a girl indicates she would like to be friends. Especially if she is very pretty, and someone he knows very well.

Mr. Murry is Ben's father. He is a man with strong principals about many things. He believes that men should be men and women should be women. Period. His reaction to Chris is much different from that of his son. He shows great anger and disgust at the "perversion" he is witnessing. He says loudly, in front of everybody. "Why is your boy wearing a dress?" Chris's father quietly explains to him, somewhat inaccurately, that Chris carries the female XX chromosome pair. Mr. Murry immediately apologizes, glad that Chris has finally straightened herself out to be what she is supposed to be. He voices no objection to his son seeing Chris, happy that his rather un-macho son is finally engaging in a manly pursuit.

People Who Only Knew Chris After

Family Members

Terry is the groom in the wedding described above. He first learns about Chris shortly before the wedding. He shows a bemused curiosity toward Chris, but knowing how his fiancé feels about her, he has no intention of showing any negative attitudes. At the same time, he feels pressured by his parents' opposition to her being included in the ceremony, after they find out. He considers any problems Chris has to be none of his business, anyway, and he tries to avoid venturing any opinion about her.

Terry's parents only learn the truth about Chris just prior to the wedding rehearsal. They immediately object to Chris being a bridesmaid. They feel it is not appropriate for her to display a female identity in a sacred ceremony, when she really is something else. This greatly upsets Joyce, and threatens a really ugly interfamily conflict. Fortunately, Chris comes up with a solution that resolves the situation, making her into something of a hero.

Non-Family Members

Heather is very kind and tolerant of Chris's tomboy personality, one of the few close girlfriends she has. A couple of weeks before graduation, Chris confides in her, panicked that her secret is about to be revealed to everyone. Heather's initial amazement is immediately replaced with a desire to comfort Chris and assure her that everything will be all right. She offers her help in planning how to handle the situation. It is clear that her learning the truth about Chris will not weaken their friendship.

Janice is the first girl Christine got acquainted with when she enrolled in her new school. She returns to take part in a graduation party, and sees Christine for the first time since she moved to a different school some years before. When she learns the news about Chris, she becomes very curious and asks Christine to tell her all about it. She is very interested until Chris goes into a little too much detail about her physical characteristics. She quickly decides she knows more than enough, and asks to change the subject.

Jack is one of the boys that Christine likes to hang out with. He has had romantic feelings for her for some time, but he does not understand why this repels and upsets her. He finds out why when he learns her secret. Not knowing anything about the intersex phenomenon, he finds himself very perplexed. He even asks her, "Are you a girl?" Still, he refuses to let this end their friendship. He sticks up for her when he hears someone at the graduation party make an unkind remark. And he regrets that the hoped for romance will never happen.