Summary
Highlights
Eddie, a maintenance man at Ruby Pier, dies trying to save a little girl from a falling ride. He then awakens in what he comes to learn is heaven, where he is told he will meet five people who will explain the meaning of his life.
Eddie's first person in heaven is the Blue Man, a sideshow performer from Ruby Pier. The Blue Man reveals that Eddie, as a child, caused the car accident that led to the Blue Man's death. He teaches Eddie that all lives are interconnected, and there are no random acts.
The second person Eddie meets is his Captain from his time in the war. The Captain reveals that he shot Eddie in the leg to save him from burning in a hut, and subsequently died from a landmine while clearing the path for the other soldiers. He teaches Eddie that sacrifice is a noble act, and sometimes losing something means passing it on to someone else.
Eddie's third encounter is with Ruby, for whom Ruby Pier is named. She tells Eddie the story of how her husband built the park for her and how a fire destroyed it, leading to her husband's death. She reveals that Eddie's father saved a man, Mickey Shea, from drowning, which ultimately led to his own death from pneumonia. Her lesson for Eddie is the importance of forgiveness, particularly forgiving his father for his actions before his death.
Eddie meets his beloved wife, Marguerite, as his fourth person. They revisit key moments of their relationship, including their wedding day. Marguerite teaches him that love never dies, even when life does, and that memories keep love alive.
The fifth person Eddie meets is Tala, a little Filipino girl he encountered during the war and believed he had killed. She reveals that he did not kill her, but burned her, and that she has been waiting for him. She cleanses him of his guilt and makes him understand that his purpose in life was to keep children safe at Ruby Pier.
Tala explains that Eddie's simple actions of maintaining the rides kept countless children safe, and that his life, though seemingly ordinary, had a profound ripple effect. She assures him that he did save the little girl he died trying to protect, by pushing her out of the way. Eddie finds peace, understanding that his life was not a waste.