Saving Winslow

Later, another car arrives. For a moment, Louie worries that the woman who emerges from it brings bad news about Gus. When she approaches the house, he sees a badge indicating the Board of Health. She asks about a donkey and then declares that it is a health hazard to have Winslow there, listing off all that could be wrong with the animal. Winslow brays, Mrs. Tooley screams, and the Board of Health woman speaks with Louie’s parents. Louie tries to give her the benefit of the doubt, noting that she is only doing her job. However, he is frustrated that she did not even look at Winslow. He vows never to be cruel or dismissive of animals.

Angry, Louie walks Winslow down Nora’s street. She emerges from her house and beckons Louie to follow her. She takes him onto an unfamiliar dirt road where they pass abandoned homes and some trailers. As they go by one, Winslow whinnies in response to a barking dog. The owner warns them to leave because dogs and donkeys do not like each other. Once away from the dog, Louie admits that he was scared, but that he thinks Winslow was trying to protect them. When they make it to the main road, Louie suggests they continue walking to Uncle Pete’s farm.

Once at the farm, Winslow is excited, listening to all the animals. When the kids visit the sheep, they find a ewe with twin lambs. Nora fondly remembers when Winslow was that small but worries that the babies look frail. She wonders if they will survive. Louie surprises himself by confidently asserting that they will. In his experience most lambs and donkeys live long past birth.

Nora is surprisingly excited to see the animals. Meanwhile, Winslow pokes his nose through the fence to smell the newborn calf before being pushed away by its mother. As Louie takes in the scene, he senses that something is not right but cannot figure it out. When Winslow brays, a dog strolls toward them, and Uncle Pete arrives, telling them not to worry about the dog. Suddenly, Louie realizes that the feeling he had earlier was because Winslow’s mother, the Little Gray Donkey, is not there.

The next morning, all goes well until Mrs. Tooley complains about Winslow again. While Louie’s anger rises, his dad puts a hand on his shoulder and apologizes to Mrs. Tooley, informing her that they are figuring out a solution. When Mack arrives, downtrodden again about Claudine, he longs for Gus to be there to help; Louie and his parents silently agree.

It rains all day, and that night a thunderstorm rages. Worried about Winslow, Louie checks that the donkey is okay before sliding into Gus’s bed. However, he is soon awakened by Winslow’s frantic braying. Concerned, Louie rushes outside to check on Winslow. The animal kicks his legs repeatedly against the fence. When Louie enters the pen, he smells smoke on Winslow and sees it coming from above the garage. Pushing Louie out of the way, Winslow charges the Tooley’s house and whinnies frantically, for there is smoke pouring out of the structure.

Louie bangs on Mrs. Tooley’s door as smoke gushes out of the house. Finally, he sees lights go on before Mrs. Tooley charges out the back door with the baby. Winslow gently nudges the infant and makes a small pleading sound. Then, firetrucks arrive, and the house is doused in water. The neighbors discuss how lightning hit the roof of the house. Nora rushes to see if Louie and Winslow are okay. The donkey will not leave Mrs. Tooley’s side, and she admits that the animal saved them.

Louie’s family sits with an emotional Mrs. Tooley in their kitchen. Then, she asks Louie to check on the baby, calling the infant by his nickname, Boom-Boom. When Louie sees Boom-Boom, he is struck by how something so little can make so much noise. As he checks the baby’s breathing, Louie wonders if there is a Mr. Tooley who misses his family, and he thinks how hard things must be for Mrs. Tooley to be alone. This reminds him of how Nora has lost both a baby brother and a dog, as well as how Winslow has no mother and does not know another donkey. Suddenly, Boom-Boom wakes and begins to cry; immediately, Winslow brays loudly outside. Louie lifts the baby and goes downstairs to announce that the Winslow only makes noise after Boom-Boom cries because the animal is protecting the baby.

Mrs. Tooley and Boom-Boom stay at Louie’s house, and the next morning, the kitchen is bustling when Nora stops by, and not long after, Uncle Pete arrives. He asks if everyone is okay and then reveals that a coyote took one of the lambs. Even though Louie gets a terrible feeling, he acknowledges that Uncle Pete needs Winslow. Silence descends on the kitchen. Then, Uncle Pete admits that Winslow’s mom was an excellent LGD, livestock guardian donkey. Angrily, Nora challenges Louie, but the boy does not back down, asserting that Winslow would protect the farm animals with his braying. When he asks Uncle Pete if he and Nora could visit the donkey, the man readily agrees.

Louie and Nora take Winslow for one final walk to the hill. The kids talk about how much they love the donkey and how they can visit him every day after school. When Nora suggests they ride bikes there, she admits that she does not have one. Louie offers his own bike to her, and he can ride Gus’s.

That afternoon, the kids walk Winslow to the farm. Uncle Pete meets them outside and asks if they want to help him, for he needs to administer shots to a lamb. Louie offers to do it, and Nora holds the lamb for him. When Louie gets home, his parents have a new letter from Gus, which says that he will be home for a few days in July. Despite losing Winslow today, Louie is happy for the donkey and excited to see his brother.

Every night when Louie falls asleep, he sees all the important people, places, and events in his life. This includes Mrs. Tooley, Nora, and, of course, Winslow. One night, Louie wakes to silvery moonlight shining on Gus’s bed and the painting of the boy tugging on the calf. He thinks of Gus and Winslow and wonders if the light is shining on them too or on the sign Louie hung from Winslow’s new pen that says, “Remember me, Louie” (165).