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Opal and her father move to Naomi, Florida
Opal is a only child that lives with her father, the preacher, who preaches to the Open Arms Baptist Church of Naomi from the old Pick-it-Quick mart. -
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Opal's First Summer in Naomi, Florida
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Opal meets a few of the local kids
Opal meets Amanda Wilkenson, the Dewberry brothers, and Sweetie Pie Thomas. These are all kids that go to her father's church. Amanda and Dunlap Dewberry are ten (Opal's age), Stevie Dewberry is nine, and Sweetie Pie is five. The Dewberry boys always seem to be making fun of Opal and Opal ends up calling them bald-headed babies. -
Opal questions her father about her mother who left her years ago.
After Opal discusses her mother with Winn-Dixie, she finally convinces herself to talk to her father about her mother. Opal challenges her father to create a list of 10 things about her mother. He tells her reluctantly. After, Opal writes down and memorizes the list in case she ever meets her mother she will recognize her. -
Opal is sent to the grocery store, and comes home with a stray dog.
She is sent for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes and she arrives home with a stray dog. Opal names him Winn-Dixie after the grocery store she found him at. Winn-Dixie is a special dog in that he smiles at people and is great at making new friends. This eventually leads Opal into meeting new people as well. -
Opal befriends the librarian Franny Block.
Ms. Block works at the Herman W. Block Memorial Library. She is a petite, older woman in a house full of books. She has a knack for story telling and tells Opal many stories over the summer. Opal states that Franny is the first friend she made in Naomi. -
Opal takes Winn-Dixie to the pet store where shet meets Otis.
Otis is a worker at the local pet store. He allows her to purchase a collar and leash for Winn-Dixie as long as she sweeps the store and dusts the shelves because she cannot pay for them on her allowence money. -
Opal meets Gloria Dump.
After getting the leash and collar for Winn-Dixie, he runs off into an unknown backyard. The Dewberry boys warn Opal that the woman who lives there is a witch. Opal still decides to chase after Winn-Dixie back there. She then befriends the older, blind woman who lives alone in the house. Gloria is a great listener and Opal has many stories to share with her. -
Winn-Dixie's pathological fear
The night after Opal and Winn-Dixie meet Gloria Dump, there is a thunderstorm. Winn-Dixie starts running around the trailor and wakes Opal and the praecher. Winn-Dixie runs around all night until the storm ends. The preacher explains to Opal that Winn-Dixie has a pathological fear of thunderstorms and there is nothing she can do about it except keep him close so he does not run away. -
Otis's guitar
On Opal's first day at work at the pet store, she arrives extremely early. However, she finds Otis there as well and all of the animals are out of their cages. Otis is playing music as the animals sit quietly, as if in a trance. Opal helps him put the animals back after he is finished and begins sweeping and dusting. -
Gloria Dump's tree
One day, after working at the pet store, Gloria has something to show Opal. She takes Opal to a tree in the yard that has bottles hanging from the branches. She explains that the bottles represent the ghosts of all of the things she has done wrong. Gloria then goes on to tell Opal that you should not judge people for what they have done. -
Franny's tale
At the library one day, Opal looks for a book to read to Gloria . Ms. Block suggests Gone With the Wind. She explains that it is about the Civil War. She then decides to tell Opal and Amanda Wilkinson, who is also in the library at the time, the story of her great-grandfather Littmus W. Block. -
Amanda Wilkinson
Opal cannot figure out what sorrowness Amanda might have, her life seems perfect. She has both parents and a nice house. However, that night Opal asks her father about Carson, the name Amanda mentioned at the library while eating the Lozenge. The preacher told Opal that Carson was Amanda's five year old brother that had drowned the previoius year. Opal realizes that their is more to Amanda that meets the eye. -
Littmus W. Block
The story goes that he entered the war at 14 and when the South lost he returned home to nothing. His house was burnt down and his family had all died. That day he decided to walk to Florida and create a type of candy. The candy was named the Littmus Lozenge. It had a taste of root-beer, strawberry, and sorrow. This was because after the war Littmus wanted something sweet, but he could not forget his sorrow. Opal and Amanda both get a Lozenge and taste the sorrowness. -
Otis's past
After Franny's story, Opal gives Otis a Littmus Lozenge and he tells her it reminds him of being in jail. Opal then inquires about his jail time and he reluctantly explains to her that he was arrested for playing his guitar in the street then hitting a police officer that was telling him to stop playing. Opal decides that he is not a dangerous man and her friendship with him is not affected. -
Party?
As Gloria and Opal are talking one day, Opal has an idea to throw a party. She got the idea while reading Gone With the Wind to Gloria. Scarlett is getting ready for a BBQ and Opal decides that they should have a get together as well. Gloria agrees, but there can only be a party if Opal invites the Dewberry brothers. Opal agrees, but is not too exitcted about inviting them. -
Night of the Party
Opal invites the preacher, Franny Block, Amanda Wilkinson, Otis, Sweetie Pie Thomas and the Dewberry brothers to the party. Gloria and Opal decide to host an outdoor evening party when it is cooler. Everyone begins to arrive and they are having a good time, until it starts to rain and storm. -
Because of Winn-Dixie
After searching for a while, Opal and her father return to the party without Winn-Dixie. When they get back everyone is outside listening to Otis play his guitar. They then explain to Opal that Winn-Dixie was hiding under Gloria's bed all night. The party continues and Opal vists Gloria's tree. That is where she tells it that her heart does not feel empty any longer. It is all filled up. All of the people she met were because of Winn-Dixie, and that is why she is no longer feels lonely. -
The storm hits.
Everyone is rushing inside to save the food and to avoid getting wet. Once everyone is inside Opal realizes that Winn-Dixie is not in there and she begins to panic. Her and her father go out looking for Winn-Dixie in the rain. While on their search they talk about her mother and the preacher tells Opal that he is glad that she left Opal behind because they need each other. Her father also tells her he does not believe her mother will come back, but they will find Winn-Dixie.
