Chapter 3 hit the road

In the last moments of his life, Eddie could see nothing, nothing on the pier, or people, or fiberglass cars flying apart. In stories about the afterlife, spirits often float upward at the moment of death, hovering over police cars at the scene of a highway crash or clinging like spiders to the ceiling of a hospital ward.A soul like this seems to have a chance to return to the world. It seems that Eddie did not get such an opportunity. This is where? This is where? This is where? The sky was a misty golden yellow, then a deep sapphire, then a bright lime green.Eddie was levitating, his arms still outstretched.

This is where? The car on the tower was falling, and he remembered this.That little girl Amy?Or Anne?She was crying: he remembered that too.He remembered throwing himself forward.He remembered jumping onto the platform.He felt two little hands in his. Then what? Did I save her? Eddie could only capture that image from a distance, as if it happened years ago.What's even more strange is that he can't feel the emotions in those things, but only feels calm, as calm as a child in his mother's arms. This is where? The sky around him changed color, first grapefruit yellow, then forest green, then pink which immediately reminded Eddie of cotton candy.

Did I save her? Did she survive? mine Worry, where did you go? Where did my pain go? Anxiety and pain are gone.Every wound he had suffered, every pain he had endured was like a breath of air, and it was gone.He feels no distress, no sorrow.His consciousness was hazy and ethereal, and he couldn't feel anything, only a sense of peace. Now, below him, the colors changed again.Something is spinning.water.an ocean.He was floating above a large expanse of yellow sea.Then it becomes the color of a melon.It becomes the color of sapphire.Then, he began to fall, toward the surface of the sea.The speed of the fall was so fast, faster than he had imagined, but he didn't even feel a breeze blowing on his face, and he didn't feel scared at all.He saw the sand on the golden shore.

Then he was below the surface. Then everything becomes quiet and silent. Where did my troubles go? Where did my pain go? ◇◇◇ Today is Eddie's birthday He is five years old.It was a Sunday afternoon at Ruby Quay.Picnic tables line the boardwalk, which overlooks the stretch of white sand.On the table was a vanilla cake with blue candles.And a big cup of orange juice.There was a buzz of people on the pier, with customers, with shows, with an animal trainer and a few men from the farm.Eddie's father was playing poker as usual; Eddie was playing at his father's feet.His older brother, Joe, was performing push-ups in front of a group of old ladies who pretended to be very interested and clapped politely.

Eddie is wearing his birthday presents: a red cowboy hat and a toy gun holster.He stood up, ran to another group of people, pulled out a toy gun and yelled: Bang, bang! Come here, kid.Mickey sitting on the bench.Shea yelled. Bang, bang.Eddie answered. Mickey.Shea and Eddie's father are colleagues, repairing the facilities in the amusement park together.He was fat and wore suspenders and was always humming Irish ballads.He smelled weird, Eddie thought, like cough syrup. Come here quickly.Let me give you a birthday flip.He said: "Just like we did back home in Ireland. Mickey's big hand suddenly came to Eddie's armpit, lifted him up, and quickly turned the little boy's body so that he was hanging upside down.Eddie's hat fell off.

Be careful, Mickey!Eddie's mother yelled. Eddie's father looked up, giggled, and turned back to his poker game. hehe.I got hold of him.Mickey said: OK.How old are you now, just turn over a few times. Mickey lowered Eddie slowly, lower, until his head was about to touch the ground. one! Mickey pulls Eddie up. The others joined in, laughing out loud.They shouted: Two!three! Eddie on his feet, not sure which feet belonged to whom.His head swelled. Four!They cheered: Five! Eddie was flipped back again, head up and down.Everyone clapped their hands.Eddie found his hat and stumbled.He stood up and staggered towards Mickey.Shea slapped his arm hard.

Phew!What are you doing, kid?Mickey said. Everyone laughed again. Eddie turned and ran away. After three steps, he was pulled into her arms by his mother. My dear little birthday star, are you all right?His mother was so close to his face, only a few inches away. He looked at her deep red lips, full and soft cheeks and brown waves. I just went upside down.he told her. I saw.she says. She put the hat back on his head. In a little while, my mother would take him for a walk along the pier, maybe take him in an elephant cart, or watch the fishermen gather the nets they cast at night, and watch the fish turn like shiny wet coins.She took his hand and told him that because he was so obedient on his birthday, God is very proud of him, so that the world can be righted again, the sky is above, and the earth is below.