Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Initial Situation
John and Lorraine become friends with Mr. Pignati.
This initial situation takes awhile to set up, five chapters, in fact. They think his smile, his pig collection, and his messy house are a little weird, but they immediately like him.
Conflict
Norton wants to steal from Mr. Pignati, but John tries to put him off the trail with various lies.
Even before John and Lorraine meet Mr. Pignati, John protects him by telling Dennis and Norton he and Lorraine are not going to collect the money because Mr. Pignati caught on that Lorraine was not really from a charity and hung up. As the novel progresses, Norton's threats become stronger.
Complication
Norton continues his threats.
Norton meets John at the cemetery and asks John if Mr. Pignati has anything worth stealing, specifically what kind of electronics he has. Angry that John is not forthcoming with information, he threatens to "pay a visit" to Mr. Pignati "real soon" (9).
Climax
Norton shows up uninvited to John's and Lorraine's party at Mr. Pignati's house and destroys the pig collection.
Angry that he has not been invited, Norton shows up at the party. He steals electrical equipment and smashes the pigs, looking for money. Mr. Pignati comes home from the hospital unexpectedly and sees the ruin of his pigs and his wife's clothes.
Suspense
Mr. Pignati goes upstairs and cries. John and Lorraine go home.
We don't know what is going to happen. Will Mr. Pignati forgive John and Lorraine? Will he understand that they never intended the destruction that occurred? What will happen to John and Lorraine when they go home?
Denouement
John and Lorraine go to the zoo with Mr. Pignati. He dies.
Lorraine tells her mother about her and John's friendship with Mr. Pignati and she and her mother become somewhat closer. John's parents tell him he will have to see a psychologist; they will forget all about this in a few days. John and Lorraine call Mr. Pignati to apologize and offer to help clean up. They suggest a trip to the zoo. When Mr. Pignati learns that Bobo has died, he has a second heart attack and dies.
Conclusion
John tries to sort out his feelings about life and death.
On the floor of the monkey house with Mr. Pignati's body, John thinks how sad it is that people can be as lonely as Mr. Pignati was. The position of Mr. Pignati's head disturbingly reminds John of his father. He thinks how futile the lives of his parents' generation are. He and Lorraine sadly leave the zoo, hand in hand.