Barry is haunted by the events of his childhood. He was called "Barry the Fairy" in school. When he was ten years old, he was "deflowered" in Room 24 of the Snug Harbor. At twelve, when he was collecting shells on the beach, Butchie Yost beat him with a broom handle. He says that he contracted epilepsy from that experience. The seizures often bring on visions; in one of those visions, he saw the winning lottery numbers. Barry owns a teddy bear, which doesn't surf very well.