LitCharts (2024)

Opal and the preacher call for Winn-Dixie. The rain makes it easy to cry, so Opal sobs the entire time. They walk through the downtown and out to the Friendly Corners Trailer Park, and then to the Open Arms Baptist Church of Naomi. They even head out to the highway. Opal worries that a car hit Winn-Dixie, but the preacher insists that they can’t worry about what may have happened. As they look, Opal mentally compiles a list of 10 things she knows about Winn-Dixie. She thinks she could write them on posters to help people find him. First, Winn-Dixie has a pathological fear of thunderstorms. He likes to smile and run fast, and he snores. He can catch mice gently. He likes to meet people and eat peanut butter, and he can’t be left alone. He likes to sit on furniture and doesn’t mind going to church.

As Opal goes over the list and memorizes it like she memorized the one about Mama, she thinks that if they don’t find Winn-Dixie, at least she’ll have the list to remember him by. She also starts to think that a list can’t really describe the real Winn-Dixie—or Mama. That thought makes Opal cry even more. Finally, the preacher says they have to give up. Opal is indignant and upset. She accuses the preacher of always giving up and withdrawing. She suggests that he never looked for Mama either, and that he let her go. The preacher says he couldn’t stop Mama from leaving, and he starts to cry. He says he loves Winn-Dixie too and is just as upset that he’s missing.

Opal goes to the preacher, hugs him, and tells him it’ll be okay. When the preacher stops crying, Opal asks if he thinks Mama will ever come back. The preacher says he’s been praying she will for years, but he doesn’t think she will. Opal repeats Gloria’s advice that they can’t hold on to anything; they can only love people while they’re around. The preacher says that Gloria is right. 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.