The Italian Tomato Garden



Giuseppe was old Italian migrant, a widower, who lived alone in country Victoria. He wanted to dig his tomato garden, but it was very hard work as the ground was hard and his joints were not as supple as they used to be. His only son, Vincenzo, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Mio caro Vincenzo,
I am feeling pretty badly because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me.
Molto con amore,
Il tuo Padre

A few days later he received a letter from his son:
Dear Dad,
Cripes! Don't dig up that bloody garden. That's where I buried the bodies!
Love, Vinnie

At 5 a.m. the next morning Giuseppe was woken by the arrival of uniformed and plain-clothes police, a mechanical digger and its operator, and a squad of forensic pathologists. They had a search warrant and proceeded to dig up the entire garden. But they did not find any bodies. After searching the house and toolshed as well, they apologised to the old man and left.

An hour later the post arrived. There was another letter from Vincenzo:

Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you, Vinnie