Because of Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie hates being left alone. At first, Opal and the preacher leave him in the trailer when they go out, but Winn-Dixie destroys things while they’re gone. They try tying him up outside, but he just howls until Samuel starts howling too. Opal insists that Winn-Dixie is just lonely and feels empty when he’s alone. Finally, the preacher relents and allows Opal to bring Winn-Dixie along on their outings—the dog even goes to church with them. The Open Arms Baptist Church of Naomi isn’t a normal church; it’s in a building that used to be a Pick-It-Quick store, and the store’s motto is still visible on the floor tiles. There aren’t any pews either, so congregants bring their own foldup chairs. Since it’s so odd to begin with, Opal figures that Winn-Dixie will fit in.

The first time that Winn-Dixie comes to church, the preacher ties him up outside in the shade because the preacher informs Opal that dogs don’t belong in church. After some singing and praying, the preacher begins his sermon. However, before he can get a word in, Winn-Dixie starts howling. Everyone looks around, confused, until the preacher yells at Opal to fetch Winn-Dixie. She and Winn-Dixie settle in at the front, and Winn-Dixie smiles at the preacher. The preacher smiles back and resumes his sermon. Winn-Dixie listens attentively.

Disaster strikes when a mouse runs across the floor; the mice have been in the building since it was a Pick-It-Quick. Though the preacher often says he needs to do something about the mice, he never does—Opal knows he just can’t stand the thought of hurting a mouse. Winn-Dixie sees the mouse and begins to chase it. He barks, and the congregation claps and points—they all cheer when Winn-Dixie catches the mouse. Winn-Dixie presents the mouse to the preacher. It’s still alive, so Winn-Dixie puts a paw on the mouse’s tail and smiles at the preacher. The preacher asks everyone to pray for the mouse and then tosses it out the door.

Opal prays for Mama. She knows that Mama would love to hear the story of Winn-Dixie catching the mouse in church. She wants to be the one to tell Mama that story someday. Opal also tells God that she’s lonely in Naomi. The only kids at church are two brothers, Dunlap and Stevie; Amanda, who always looks like she’s smelled something bad; and Sweetie Pie Thomas, who’s only five. None of them want to be Opal’s friend, presumably because they believe that Opal is going to tell on them to the preacher whenever they do something wrong. Finally, Opal prays that the mouse landed on soft grass and didn’t get hurt.