Set in post-war Germany, this first of three parts tells the story of Erich, who along with his sister, is separated from his family by the devastation of battle. The two youngsters are taken in by a older woman who mistakes the long-haired boy for a girl. Knowing that girls are treated better than boys, Erich plays along. When his benefactor discovers his true gender, she allows him to stay in frocks and makeup. She takes him to a doctor who administers hormonal treatment. Erika's idyllic time is shattered when his/her birth mother shows up to reclaim him.