The Pigman

The Pigman is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel first published in 1968. Zindell wrote a screenplay, adapting the book for the stage and screen, but it was not taken up by any film maker.

[The novel begins with an "oath" signed by John Conlan and Lorraine Jensen, two high school sophomores, which pledge that they will report only the facts about their experiences with Mr. Angelo Pignati.

While John, Lorraine and their peers are making prank phone calls, Lorraine picks out Mr. Pignati's phone number and pretends to be calling from a charity called the L & J fund. Mr. Pignati offers to donate ten dollars, and John and Lorraine travel to his house to collect the funds. From the first meeting, the two teenagers and the old man become close friends. Mr. Pignati finds new vitality and happily takes on the role of father figure for the two just to help them out... (Synopsis from Wikipedia entry)