Saving Winslow

One morning, Louie discovers that the door to Winslow’s pen is open, and the animal is missing. His parents and Mack help him search the neighborhood, calling out the donkey’s name. Although his parents must go to work, Louie and Mack stay home from school to continue searching. After an extensive and unsuccessful hunt through neighbor’s yards, Louie pauses to consider where Winslow could have gone. When he remembers sledding down the hill, he heads that way. When he approaches, he can make out the shape of something on top of the hill.

Before going up the hill, Louie remembers when he was five years old, and he saw a bear in his yard. Terrified at the sight of the animal by the garage, Louie was unable to scream or move. He remembered the wind and how the bear shifted. Incapable of doing anything else, Louie crouched into a ball on the ground and stayed still, hoping that the animal would not notice or harm him. Eventually, Louie fell asleep. When he woke, he thought the bear was scratching him, but it was Gus asking what was wrong. When Louie told his brother about the bear, Gus moved toward it and held up a winter jacket that was brown and puffy, claiming it was probably Mack’s. Embarrassed, Louie begged Gus not to tell their parents.

When Louie climbs the hill, he thinks of the bear. Because the sun is blinding his view, he cannot see the shape clearly. As he inches closer, he spies Nora sitting with Winslow in the grass. She tells him to be quiet because the animal is sleeping. Frustrated that Nora does not communicate much, Louie thinks that people who talk too much are vexing as well. Even though he is irritated by her minimalist response and desperately wants to know what happened, he stays silent and feels grateful to have found Winslow.

Louie whispers his thanks to Nora as he pets Winslow, but the girl is confused. Explaining how worried he was, he expresses gratitude that she found the donkey and saved him from potential disaster. Not surprisingly, Nora remains silent, staring off into the distance. Soon, Louie states that they must take the donkey home and get to school. Annoyed that he woke Winslow, Nora reluctantly agrees, hands Louie the leash, and runs off. When he gets Winslow home, the boy wonders how Nora got the leash. He does not realize that Winslow did not run away; Nora took him for a walk.

Because he has not deduced what happened, Louie is anxious to get to school to ask Nora more questions, but he cannot find her anywhere. When he gets home, Mack is with Winslow, and Louie confesses that he must have left the gate open and forgotten to take the donkey’s leash off. Mack suggests getting a lock while Louie is upset that Winslow would wander off.

That Saturday, the weather is dreary, so Louie puts on one of Gus’s sweatshirts. When he sees his parents, they, too, are wearing some of Gus’s clothes. Everyone misses him. Hearing a knock on the door, Louie immediately assumes it is either Gus or that there is bad news about his brother. However, it is Nora asking to see Winslow. Louie accompanies her to the pen outside and asks Nora about how Winslow wandered off. When he asks how she got the leash, she told him it was on the hook in the pen.

Before Nora can explain further, Uncle Pete arrives. When Louie introduces them, he says that Nora found Winslow when he got lost, but the girl insists that Winslow was never lost. Confused, Uncle Pete heads inside to talk with Louie’s parents and get some coffee.

Still bewildered, Louie peppers Nora with questions, wishing she would talk faster so he could uncover the truth about what happened the day Winslow went missing. Eventually, she reveals that she often wakes early, before most people get up, and likes to go for walks. Louie thinks this means that she left the gate unlatched, but finally Nora clarifies that she took Winslow for a walk because he looked sad and lonely. Watching her gently stroke Winslow’s neck, Louie’s anger fades because he sees how much she loves the animal. Instead, he tells her to leave a note next time, so he does not worry.

When Uncle Pete comes back outside, he pats Winslow and tells Louie that the animal looks good and that it is time. Louie is confused, and his dad interrupts to talk with Uncle Pete privately. Meanwhile, Nora and Louie speculate that maybe it is time for Winslow to start a new diet or get a checkup. While they wait, a shaft of light shines on Winslow’s head, and Mack shouts from next door that he will come over soon. When Winslow brays, Mrs. Tooley’s baby cries, and Winslow makes noise again. The woman shouts angrily to quiet the donkey because it is keeping her baby awake. To himself, Louie mutters that the baby keeps him up sometimes. Then, Louie’s dad returns to say they need to talk, and fearing bad news, Nora wants to leave.

Louie’s dad looks like Gus when he leans against the house, which momentarily cheers the boy. However, Louie notices his parents’ worried expressions and senses that something is amiss. They tell him that Winslow cannot stay any longer. He needs to be with other animals, and farm animals are not allowed where they live. Distraught, Nora whispers that she knew it would be bad news. When his parents suggest that Winslow return to Uncle Pete’s farm, both kids loudly dissent. They believe Winslow needs to stay so that they can protect him, and Nora shouts that as soon as “you get attached to something [...] it always gets taken away!” (121).

Later that night, Louie lays in Gus’s bed wondering about his brother. He longs to ask Gus so many questions and to tell him about Winslow. Additionally, Nora’s words about getting attached to something that gets taken away resonates with him, for he thinks of both Winslow and Gus. Louie also worries about who Winslow belongs to.

With warmer weather, more people are out and about in the neighborhood, many commenting on Winslow. Mrs. Tooley continues to angrily shout for the donkey to be quiet. One day, an animal control officer arrives and, without even looking at Winslow, tells them that they have seven days to remove the animal from the property.