Winn Dixie

"Baby," the preacher said. "I couldn't stop her. I tried. Don't you think I wanted her to stay, too? Don't you think I miss her every day?" He spread his arms out wide and then dropped them to his sides. "I tried," he said. "I tried." Then he did something I couldn't believe.

He started to cry. The preacher was crying. His shoulders were moving up and down. And he was making snuffly noises. "And don't believe

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