Because of Winn-Dixie

Opal explains how Winn-Dixie leads her to meet another friend, named Gloria Dump. One day Opal rides home on her bike with Winn-Dixie, when the Dewberry brothers tail her on their bikes, talking about her in hushed voices. Opal yells back at them, but they say nothing. They come upon a place the Dewberry brothers call the Witch’s house—Winn-Dixie runs through the gate and into a mysterious garden. The Dewberry brothers tell Opal her dog will be eaten by the Witch for sure, and so will she if she goes after him. Opal takes her chances and finds Winn-Dixie eating peanut butter off an elderly woman’s hand. The elderly woman is Gloria Dump, and Opal can tell immediately she is a good soul. Gloria makes Opal a peanut butter sandwich and then says to her, “You know, my eyes ain’t too good at all... so I got to rely on my heart. Why don’t you go on and tell me everything about yourself, so I can see you with my heart” (66). Opal, thankful someone has finally asked, begins her life story.