Tuck Everlasting

Back at her house, Winnie thinks over the evening. The constable brought her home, where her family received her with much fussing. They don’t understand Winnie’s kind words for her kidnappers, and as a group, they come to the realization that the wood will be theirs again if the man dies. Finally, her parents put her to bed, all the while looking at her “as if they sensed that she was different now from what she had been before” (109).

Later, the constable comes by the house. The man in the yellow suit died, and Mae has been charged with his murder. Since there’s no question she meant to kill him, “they'll hang her for sure” (111), which leaves Winnie feeling sickened. She goes to bed, wondering what she could possibly do to get the Tucks out of this.

The next day, Winnie goes into the yard, where she sees the same toad from a few days ago across the road. She goes inside to ask her grandmother for water to give the toad a drink. Her grandmother provides the water, telling Winnie toads don’t drink—they absorb water through their skin. Winnie goes back outside, but the toad is gone.