The Misadventures of John and Lorraine
Two lonely kids - John and Lorraine - find a lonely man visiting the zoo while they are ditching school. They develop an unlikely friendship with Angelo Pignati, who is the title character, The Pigman.
Lorraine is the product of a single-parent household, the daughter of a nurse who is perpetually angry and mean. She takes every opportunity to belittle her daughter, who, in John's point of view, is far more attractive than Lorraine realizes or her mom lets on. Her mother is also physically abusive, not above slapping her daughter to keep her in line.
John's a mess too; he is also the product of abuse, a combination of verbal and neglect. His father is an alcoholic, and his mother has OCD, more worried about a clean house than demonstrating kindness to her son. They prefer his older brother to him.
The two find refuge with the Pigman, who indulges their whims, enjoys their company, and treats them with kindness and respect. They become increasingly protective of him after they discover that while he states his wife is away visiting her sister, she has, in fact, passed away.
Of course, it goes haywire.
There is an accident when the three spontaneously purchase roller skates, and the Pigman is hospitalized. Promising to take care of the house, John decides to throw a party instead, since he is never allowed to do this at home. Their friends take advantage, breaking, stealing, and destroying most of the contents of the house, including a raid on the deceased Mrs. Pignati's wardrobe.
The Pigman comes home from the hospital early, and the kids are arrested. They go to apologize and make it up to him by taking him to the zoo. It is there that they discover his favorite animal, the gorilla, has passed away, and the Pigman dies of a broken heart.
The story is told in alternating chapters from Lorraine's and John's points of view. The book, in their words, is their way of memorializing Mr. Pignati, and a way for them to sort their feelings about the incidents as they transpired, as well as a way for them to come to terms with the feelings they have for each other. While they do kiss and are inseparable, it is not determined if they are a couple by the end of the novel.
