Obadiah is a young record-breaking athlete from Middleton Junction, with an unfortunate tendency to violence, on the rare occasions when he can afford to drink too much. Nevertheless, he is devoted to his sport and his lovely young wife Millie, until his life is tragically cut short by a bizarre accident. His spirit then makes unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the Afterlife, in which he is assisted by his widow Millie and her new husband, Paddy, with the advice of a friendly angel.

Most of the action occurs on a short stretch of the towpath of the Rochdale canal, between the Boat and Horses, Chadderton, and the Rose of Lancaster at Mills Hill, and a few forays into the hinterland.

As his attempts to join the Afterlife are unsuccessful, he spends the rest of eternity as a ghost on his comfort zone, the towpath, and for all I know he is still there.