Winn Dixie

"It's all right, Otis," I told him. "It's just a few people, hardly any people at all." "Oh," said Otis again. He looked around like he was lost. Then he held up the jar of pickles. "I brought pickles," he said.

"I saw them," I said. "It's just exactly what we needed. They will go perfect with the egg-salad sandwiches." I talked to him real soft and gentle and low, like he was a wild animal that I was trying to get to take food out of my hand. He took one tiny step forward. "Come on," I whispered. I started walking and Winn-Dixie followed me. And when I turned around, I saw Otis was following me, too. 149