Because of Winn-Dixie

Opal tells Gloria Dump all about her life. She explains the preacher, their recent move to Naomi, and how she has been missing her mother more than ever since the move. She tells Gloria the story of Winn-Dixie and the 10 things she learned about her mama. Gloria suggests they test out Opal’s green thumb, which she may have inherited from her mother. Gloria shows Opal how to plant a tiny tree in the dirt. Opal wonders, “‘What kind of tree is it?’ I asked Gloria Dump. ‘It’s a wait-and-see tree,’ she said. ‘What’s that mean?’ ‘It means you got to wait and see for it to grow up before you know what it is’” (69). Opal promises to come back the next day to check on her tree. That night, as the preacher tucks her into bed, she tells him all about the friends she has made, her job, and Gloria Dump.

That night, there is a bad thunderstorm. Opal wakes up to Winn-Dixie whining and shaking at the door. Opal opens the door and Winn-Dixie runs out, waking the preacher by jumping on his bed. The preacher is confused until another crack of thunder comes, and Winn-Dixie barrels through the house again. The preacher is knocked over by Winn-Dixie and lands flat on his stomach. The preacher explains a pathological fear to Opal—a fear that cannot be managed. They watch Winn-Dixie run and shake and whine, until finally the thunder stops, and Winn-Dixie is himself again. The preacher comments that there are a lot of thunderstorms in Florida in the summer. Opal is afraid he will not want Winn-Dixie anymore, but instead he says they will have to make sure Winn-Dixie never gets out in a storm. Opal thinks, “I loved the preacher so much […]. I loved him because he was going to forgive Winn-Dixie for being afraid” (78).

At Gertrude’s Pets the next day, Opal comes in early. She finds all the animals out of their cages, sitting still. Otis is playing beautiful music on his guitar. Just then, Gertrude the parrot squawks and lands on Winn-Dixie’s head, breaking the spell. All the animals run around in chaos, and Opal and Otis run to chase them. Finally, Opal yells to Otis to play music again. When he does, the animals calm down and Opal puts them all back in their proper cages. She asks Otis what happened, and he explains, “I take them out. I feel sorry for them being locked up all the time. I know what it’s like, being locked up” (82). Otis reveals he went to jail for a time but will not say why or for what. Opal sweeps the floor and leaves, wondering how the preacher would feel about her working with a criminal. Sweetie Pie Thomas meets her outside, and then runs off to tell her mama the story of Otis the magic man. Opal feels sorry she cannot tell her own mama all the magical stories she has been saving for her.