Barney is a 10-year-old boy, a 5th grade student. His full name is Barnaby, but almost everyone just calls him Barney. A calm, quiet, tired, unflappable, thoughtful child. He has a strained relationship with Kevin, but he has never had a direct confrontation with him before. Kevin annoys him, but he used to put up with him, until today, because today Kevin was laughing at something important to Barney, or some sick topic for the boy. He doesn't have the closest relationship with his parents.