Because of Winn-Dixie Chapters 22-26 Summary & Analysis | SuperSummary (2024)

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What happened in chapter 22 of Because of Winn-Dixie? ›

Chapter 22 Summary

At the party, Otis is introduced to everyone. He is a bit awkward at first, but soon warms up. Gloria asks Opal where the boys are, but Opal is not sure. She does not say they might not come because they believe Gloria is a witch.

Opal walks out to the tree with all the bottles on it, Gloria's "mistake tree" (26.1). Then she talks to her mom, tilting her head to the sky. She tells her even though she doesn't know enough about her, her daddy can tell her more because they both know she's not comin' back.

Opal announces that she's not ready to let Winn-Dixie go. The preacher says they'll keep looking, but he realizes he forgot to mention the one important thing that Mama did leave behind: Opal. Opal tells the preacher that she's glad they have each other. They walk back into town holding hands, calling for Winn-Dixie.

Opal tells Otis to come on inside, where everyone is already laughing about the sudden deluge. Then it hits her: Winn-Dixie is gone. She forgot to protect him from the thunder, and he bolted. She runs outside to check all the chairs, bushes, and trees, beating herself to a guilty pulp.

As the Preacher and Opal return to Gloria Dump's house, they hear music coming from the open kitchen door. There's a kitchen full of people, and Opal admits to the crowd that she and the Preacher were not able to find Winn-Dixie.

They taught the words to Stevie, Dunlap, Amanda, and Sweetie Pie—and then they heard a sneeze. Otis found Winn-Dixie hiding under Gloria's bed. The dog sneezed whenever Otis played the guitar. Otis managed to coax Winn-Dixie out by playing, and once the storm stopped, Winn-Dixie fell asleep under Gloria's chair.

Once the safe is open, Lev hits the pawnbroker over the head. The pawnbroker wakes hours later to see that Lev took the money in the safe but left the bracelet. Lev's hard dealing and ultimate violence with the pawnbroker makes it clear just how much he's changed since Connor ripped him out of the car a month ago.

Why was Winn Dixie banned? "Because of Winn-Dixie" was banned in many libraries due to profanity.

Opal learns that Otis once went to jail for battering a police officer who tried to confiscate his guitar after the officer told Otis he could not play music on the street because he was disturbing others.

Connor says that he and Risa broke up. Roland lets Risa go, smiles at her, and leaves. Sexually harassing Risa like this makes it clear that Roland isn't someone to trifle with.

How does Winn-Dixie end? ›

It turns out that Winn-Dixie ran into a bedroom, and had been hiding under a bed during the entire storm. India and the preacher are overjoyed! While India has been gone, her friends have settled in to sing songs and have become fast friends as well.

The night sky is clear as Opal walks to the back of Gloria's yard to look at the mistake tree. As she stares up at the bottles, Opal addresses Mama. She tells Mama that she knows 10 things about her, but that won't be enough. Opal says she knows that Daddy will talk more about Mama now.

Luke thinks Jen can go flaunt her status as a third child at the president's house, and he hopes someone shoots her. But as soon as he has this thought, he wishes he could take it back. Remembering her sign slogan “Give me liberty or give me death,” Luke wonders if she's actually prepared to die.

Summary: Chapter XXIII

A crowd gathers and shouts obscenities at her and two other prisoners in an outdoor cage. She can barely stand for the pain and fear. The branding “cooks” her as the crowd quiets and leaves. The ghosts of her mother and father embrace Isabel as she melts into unconsciousness.

Connor ruminates on what Risa said and realizes that Roland is smarter than he gives him credit for. He's plotting something. Connor is also looking out for Lev at every turn. Not because he wants to hurt him—well, maybe he does—but mainly he's mad that he risked his life for Lev, and now Lev is probably dead.

The afternoon before, Gloria teaches Opal to make egg salad sandwiches. Winn-Dixie watches, wags his tail, and smiles at Gloria. Opal catches Gloria giving him one when she thinks Opal isn't looking. Gloria also teaches Opal to make a drink called Dump Punch, which she's famous for.

Why did Otis go to jail? In Because of Winn-Dixie, Otis goes to jail for hitting a police officer. The police officer wanted Otis to stop playing the guitar on the street but Otis did not stop.