Tuck Everlasting

The Tucks grab Winnie, toss her on their horse, and run away, all the while telling her to be calm and that they’ll explain. Though Winnie is stunned, she’s not scared and goes along with what feels like a strange kidnapping. Outside the wood, they pass the man in the yellow suit from the night before, but before Winnie even thinks to call out, they’ve left him behind.

When they finally stop, the Tucks struggle to explain the situation to Winnie. Overcome, Winnie devolves into sobs, and Mae brings out her music box. Winnie recognizes the tune from the night before, and it calms her “like a ribbon tying her to familiar things” (37). The group recovers, and Jesse says they’ll explain but that they need Winnie’s help.

Taking turns, the Tucks explain how they came to the area 87 years ago in search of a place to settle. Back then, the wood was a great forest, and after traveling through it for a while, they found the clearing and camped there. Everyone took a drink from the spring, except their cat, and the next day, Tuck carved a “T” on the tree over the spring before they left.