<b>ZERO.</b> 14th january, 1992. bellamy nolan gray is born. not born bellamy nolan, though. he's born emmaline marie, to willard and bunny. he's etta fitzgerald's little sister, and the big sister to sasha mordecai, who'll be born four years later. he's a healthy baby, bright, bouncing, happy. his parents want him to be that way forever. he won't be again for a very long time, unfortunately.

<br><br><b>TWO.</b> bellamy's parents say 'good girl', and he repeats 'no mommy, good <i>boy</i>,' back to them. they reason it's because he doesn't want to be like etta. he <i>is</i> a tomboy after all - he loves video games, while etta likes barbies. long brown locks get hacked off with scissors and angry scowls, and his daycare teachers have never seen a more boyish baby girl.

<br><br><b>FOUR.</b> bellamy is the unhappiest little girl his teachers have ever seen and nobody knows why. they would if they listened but nobody listens if the little girl in pigtails and a pink dress insists to all the boys that she can play cars with them because she's a boy too.