"Nobody could answer that, except Baby X, who had just finished its bottle. Baby X's answer was a loud, satisfied burp."
When the Joneses explain that Baby X is neither a boy nor a girl but an X, other people assume something is wrong with X. The Joneses ask these people what could possibly be wrong with X, and X responds by burping after their bottle. This quotation is significant because it acknowledges, in a lighthearted way, how all babies are the same regardless of gender.
"So they bought plenty of sturdy blue pajamas in the Boys' Department and cheerful flowered underwear in the Girls' Department."
In this quotation, the narrator describes how the Joneses provide X with clothing that is both traditionally for boys and girls. This helps X become familiar with and interested in types of clothing and toys that they might not normally explore if categorized into a particular gender.
"Nobody in X's class had ever known an X before. What would they think? How would X make friends?"
In this quotation, the narrator uses free indirect discourse to assume the voices of the Joneses. As they are about to send X to school, they worry that others will not understand X or that X will not have any friends. As it turns out, their concerns are valid, as the Other Children are puzzled by and curious about X.
"But it was too late; the Other Children stayed mixed up and happy and free, and refused to go back to the way they'd been before X."
Once the Other Children at school get to know X, they too start blurring the perceived boundary between the male and female sexes. Some of the boy students start playing with dolls, and some of the girl students become interested in sports. When the parents ask them to stop, the children refuse. This quotation underscores how happy and "free" people – especially children – can be when the pressures of gender are removed from the equation.
"But the psychiatrist looked terrible. He looked as if he was crying!"
When the parents demand that X be examined, they call in a psychiatrist to question X. After a number of questions and a long time spent in the room together, the psychiatrist emerges and announces that X is indeed completely fine, emotionally and mentally. That the psychiatrist is described as crying suggests that he was moved by X's story.
"Well don't worry. You'll all know one of these days. And you won't need to tell me."
At the end of the story, the parents continue to inquire what X is. The psychiatrist replies with this quotation, which the Other Children interpret to mean that by the time X's sex matters, "it won't be a secret anymore" (113). This quotation serves as commentary on how sex can heavily and unnecessary influence people in their youth.
