An elderly Italian man living alone in New Jersey wanted nothing more than to plant his annual tomato garden. But the soil was hard, the work was backbreaking, and without his son Vincent—who used to help every spring—it felt impossible.
So, he wrote Vincent a letter in prison:
Dear Vincent,
I’m feeling sad this year. Looks like I won’t be able to plant the tomato garden. I’m too old to dig it up myself, and if you were here, I know you’d happily do it for me, just like the old days.
Love, Papa
A few days later, a reply came:
Dear Pop,
Whatever you do, don’t dig up the garden. That’s where the bodies are buried.
Love, Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the very next morning, the FBI and local police swarmed the old man’s backyard. They tore up the entire plot, shoveling furiously, searching every inch for hidden bodies. When nothing turned up, they muttered apologies and left.
Later that day, another letter arrived from Vincent:
Dear Pop,
Now go plant your tomatoes. That was the best I could do from in here.
Love you,
Vinnie