One! Hundred! Demons!

Barry listens to The Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1965 song “Do You Believe in Magic” the summer she moves her bedroom into the basement. She is in the middle of growing out her hair, and her house is changing. Her grandma has moved out, her parents are off seeing other people, and Barry is supposed to stay home and take care of her two younger brothers. Barry’s best friend Ev, who is two years younger than Barry, lives across the street. Once Barry starts junior high, she feels embarrassed to have a younger best friend and abruptly starts avoiding Ev.

Barry reflects on the loss of a kind of childhood magic that feels like possibility. Teenage Barry lashes out at her siblings for suggesting she play with Ev, retreating to the basement to listen to the radio. Music has a unique impact when you’re between the ages of 12 and 20. Adult Barry remembers climbing on the roof with Ev and “talking about infinity” (106). Barry wonders about how little the difference in age between them really was. She rediscovers an old photo of her and Ev in a photo booth and pastes it into this book.