Flashbacks
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/8/2/13823822/9478862.jpg?189)
During the book Eddie has trouble with his birthday. Nothing ever seems to go his way when it comes to “his special day.” There are many examples in the story of flashbacks to previous birthdays Eddie has had. Overall let us just say Eddie has not had the best birthday experiences. One example given in the novel is when Eddie was turning eight. Eddie cannot comprehend why or what he is doing all he knows is that he is attending a funeral and that his mom is getting him ready. This flashback happens right when Eddie meets the blue man. The interpretation that is supposed to be understood is that the funeral that he is attending is the blue mans because he was the one that by no means killed him. Another important flashback that happens during the story is when Eddie meets his old captain. He thinks back to when he was in the war. This is supposed to show how his life has altered since then. Eddie was just scared of what he might have done to that young girl and it made him realize that it was good when he was in the war, but he was not made to fight. The last two flashbacks that I think are very important in the story are both in chapter seven. What happens is Eddie thinks back to when his father would leave him at the pier with a random stranger that works there and his father would come back drunk and pick Eddie up. This just showed how much Eddie did not respect his father. The second flashback has to do with Eddie’s unlucky birthdays. When Eddie was turning 37 he had some breakfast with Noel, a dear friend. While they were eating the conversation at the table consisted of an accident that occurred at an amusement park. This is a really weird coincidence I think because there are usually not too many accidents like these that you hear of.