The Pigman

The story is narrated, in alternating chapters, by two high-school sophomores, Lorraine Jenson and John Conlan, who have become friends because of their shared absurd sense of humor and boredom withschool. With their loser friends, Norton and Dennis, they prank-call Mr. Pignati and end up going to his house on the pretending to collecting money for the "L. and J. Fund." Mr. Pignati is verywelcoming, and invites them to go to the zoo the next day. Mr. Pignati proudly shows Lorraine and John his collection of ceramic pigs, which he and his wife started together when he gave her a ceramic pigas a joke, to remind her of him. Lorraine feels guilty about taking his money, but John is unconcerned, cashes the check, and spends the money on beer and cigarettes.

The next day, Lorraine andJohn go to the zoo with Mr. Pignati, and meet a baboon whom he calls his best friend, Bobo. After this trip to the zoo, Lorraine and John's friendship with Mr. Pignati deepens, and they give him anaffectionate nickname, "the Pigman," though they always address him as "Mr. Pignati."

They begin to go to Mr. Pignati's house nearly every afternoon or evening, and he always makes them feel much morecomfortable than they feel in their parents' homes. Mr. Pignati invites them to explore the house, and John and Lorraine learn that Mrs. Pignati is dead when John finds a funeral bill for "ConchettaPignati." They drink wine, play word games, and go to a department store where Mr. Pignati buys strange gourmet food, such as snails and chocolate-covered ants, which he gleefully shares with them. Mr.Pignati buys all three of them roller skates.

The sinister Norton, who was with John and Lorraine when Lorraine first called Mr. Pignati, becomes increasingly curious about Lorraine and John'sfriendship with him, and indicates to John that he intends to try to break into the house.

Feeling increasingly guilty for having lied to Mr. Pignati and taken his money, John and Lorraine confess...