Chapter 8 Summary

After tender and loving grooming, Winn-Dixie begins to look more and more handsome. The bald spots fade away as fur grows in. Opal walks to the local pet shop, Gertrude's Pets, to see about buying a collar and leash for him.

Once inside the pet store, Opal finds a beautiful red leather collar and leash, but they cost more than her meager allowance can afford. She asks the man working there if she can have something called an installment plan where she can pay a little bit each week toward the balance of the collar and leash. That arrangement isn't acceptable to the owner, so Opal offers to sweep floors to pay off the balance.

In an effort to convince him to hire her, Opal explains that she's new in town, is trustworthy, and is the daughter of the Preacher at the Open...