Day 12: Dear Mr. Piani 2,706 Words

Dear Mr. Piani, January 15

Thank you for murdering my mother and ruining my life.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, January 20

I hope prison is treating you well. I hope you’re enjoying the gourmet food they serve and the fabulous friends I’m sure you’re making. The men in prison always seem so friendly on tv.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, January 24

They located the murder weapon the other day. I thought you’d want to know. It took them awhile to find it in the crawlspace, but they persevered.

It was all over the news. You should have seen everyone cheering. Your best friend was right up front, thanking the police, saying how he never knew this other side of you. Liar. He is almost as bad as you. Sure, he hasn’t murdered anyone, yet, but I’m betting his anger will get the best of him one day as well.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, January 29

Because of you, I’m forced to see the school counselor twice a week. Like there’s anything to talk about, really. You killed my mother. I am now motherless. End of story. What more is there to say? Am I angry with you, she asks. Why should I be? It just seemed to fit, you know, like, it was about time you killed her. I was beginning to think the day would never come, but you came through for me. You never were one to let anyone down. Always keep your promises. Yes you do.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, February 3

Today is my birthday. I get to celebrate it with your best friend and his family. Joy. It will be almost like spending it with you. Almost. Except he hasn’t killed anyone yet and you have.

I hope I get a piñata and everything. My bazillion new friends, the ones that have latched onto me since you killed my mother, are all going to be in attendance. We’re all such good friends now. Such good friends.

Maybe your best friend will send you a piece of birthday cake with a file in it.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, February 22

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. I’ve been so busy with my new friends that there’s hardly time enough to write. You know how it is. I’m sure you and your prison buddies are the same way, except even closer.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, February 29

How is Leap Year Day treating you? It’s getting closer to your trial, so I’m betting you’re thinking more about that than Leap Day.

I don’t know how much I’ll be able to come, since I’m still in school and everything. Oh, and wear your blue suit. You always say, “A true businessman wears a nice blue suit.” Perhaps it will show you in your best light.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani , March 5

We have to do a genealogy project in History class. I got really creative last night and made a family tree out of construction paper. Each family member’s name is written on an apple. I drew a picture of you standing next to it, with my mother’s apple crushing under your foot. I think it’s a pretty good likeness of you. Maybe I should take art next year. I’ll have to ask my guidance counselor about it when I see her for our next counseling session.

Yours, Angela.


Dear Mr. Piani, March 15

My counselor thinks it’s an excellent idea for me to enroll in art next year. I wanted to thank you—you were truly the inspiration for it.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, March 19

Today is the first day of your trial. I won’t be there. I have a quiz in Biology, and like you always told me, sometimes you have to decide which thing is more important to you. And I like learning about plant life quite a bit.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, March 21

I bet you enjoy getting out of your cell each day, even if it is to sit in a courtroom. At least you can see your best friend and your family. I bet they’re all there, every day. I’ll be there soon. See you then!

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, March 23

I was on the docket today, but I didn’t get called to testify. Rats.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, March 24

Today was my first day on the stand. I saw you looking at me and I looked right back. I’m not the least bit afraid of you. I knew you were going to kill my mother. I knew you were never going to kill me. Not because you like me better, but because I knew you’d be in jail before you ever had the chance.

In hindsight, I wish I’d have brought my family tree project to enter as an exhibit. It might have helped out the prosecution, made things simpler for the jury to understand.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, March 25

So, day two on the stand for me. I’m really rather tired tonight. Maybe I’ll skip school tomorrow. I know you wouldn’t approve, but I’m not sure that I care right now. Maybe and maybe not. Probably not.

It was funny how your eyes were pleading with me today, pleading with me to forgive you? To understand? I’m not sure. You’re about as confusing as OJ. It’s funny how neither of you “did it”. You’re so silly. Both of you.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, March 30

I’m back in school again. I hope you’re enjoying the rest of your trial. It’s probably strange having your best friend testify against you, but at least you get to see one another. That should count for something, right?

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, April 1

I just wanted to let you know that I decided to change my testimony in your favor. Hopefully that will sway the jury’s minds towards “Not Guilty”.

Yours, Angela

PS Do I really need to say “April Fools”?


Dear Mr. Piani, April 6

I had a nightmare last night. My mother was there, and she was still alive. You were there as per usual. I was there. Obviously.

Anyway, my mother was wearing a white dress, except there was this red stuff all over it. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was blood. And what were you doing? You were mad at her for ruining her dress. She groveled at your feet like she did that day. I can’t finish this. I just can’t



Dear Mr. Piani, April 8

The prosecution rests. Now it’s your turn.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, April 10

I hope your defense is going well. I bet your female lawyer is tearing things up. The prosecution is probably hiding under their table.

Hope your blue suit is holding up.

Yours, Angela April 18


Dear Mr. Piani,

Matthew Carson finally asked me to the prom. You remember Matthew, right? Long hair. Piercings. Combat boots. Bad attitude.

Of course I had to say yes. Normally my mother would have taken me dress shopping, but this year, thanks to your help, I get to go with some of my new friends’ moms. They all want me to choose them. They’re even buying my dress for me. So, thanks to you, I get a free dress.

Yours, Angela



Dear Mr. Piani, April 23

I skipped Math and met Matthew behind the school. And I just have to tell you, pot is not rot. That used to be one of your favorite anti-drug sayings.

Pot is actually quite smooth. And it made me stop missing my mother for about an hour.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, April 24

Skipped math again. Smoked some pot. Made out with Matthew.

Matthew says he’s going to get a hotel room for prom night.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, April 28

Your defense didn’t spend very long defending you, not like the prosecution did, presenting my mother’s case. The jury’s out.

I bet you’re feeling pretty anxious right about now. I wouldn’t worry, if I were you. You already know you did it, so it’s not going to be a surprise when 12 other people agree with you.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, April 29

The counselor pulled me out of Math today. I was mad at her, because I’d actually planned on going to class today instead of smoking pot with Matthew. Have I mention ed that we’ve moved from first base to second?

Anyway, the counselor said you’d been found guilty. What a shocker. Yes indeedy. Shock me. Shock me.

I didn’t even cry. I felt nothing at all. My counselor is afraid that I’m not expressing my emotions like I should, but I reassured her that this is just the inevitable. Just like killing my mother was inevitable. Just like you being in prison the rest of your life is inevitable. Some things just “are”, you know?

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, May 3

I was able to make it to your sentencing. I wouldn’t have missed that for the world. It was a riot when you started crying. When the judge asked if you wanted to say anything on your own behalf, I never thought you’d actually break down crying. My mother was probably laughing up in Heaven right then. I’m sure God lets murder victims watch their trial on Heaven TV or something.

And the judge gave you life without parole. Sorry about that. I know you’d rather have gotten the death penalty, but well, God, my mother, and I discussed it and decided we’d rather have you here on earth where we can keep an eye on you. Plus, you have time to become a Born-Again Christian like criminals do.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, May 16

Sorry I haven’t written for a few weeks. The school has this requirement that we do our homework and show up to class. Stringent rules, if you ask me. Your best friend has been dropping me off at school himself. He’s so parental. You’d be impressed.

At least he hasn’t killed anyone, yet.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, May 19

Life is sort of dull now that the trial is over. Some of my new friends are losing interest in me. Not Matthew, mind you. He’s more interested than ever. We got our tongues pierced yesterday after school.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, May 24

Do you know what today is? Think hard. I’ll give you a hint. Today was the last day my mother was seen alive. Does that help?

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, June 2

Long time no right. I think I actually got mad at you for a couple of weeks, you know, the fact that you killed my mother and all.

Prom came and went. I came too if you know what I mean.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, June 8

My junior year ended with a bang, literally (under the bleachers during our final pep rally). I saw my counselor afterwards. She said it was the first time she’d seen me smile all year. Haha.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, June 12

I have the newspaper clipping with your picture at the verdict taped on my bedroom mirror. I like to look at you and wonder what it must have been like to hear those words. I like to make up my own monologue for you. Would you like to read some of it?

Int. sweaty courtroom filled with Mr. Piani’s friends and enemies (some who used to be friends and are now enemies).

Mr. Piani: How did they figure it out? I mean really? I was so careful. I wore gloves just like OJ. I made sure they were too big for my hands to throw the police off the scent. Oh, and I wore my blue suit on verdict day. You can’t lose in a blue suit.

Well, you think stuff like that when I’m planning your monologues. It keeps me occupied while Matthew is at work. He’s a team leader at Blockbuster these days. My man.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, June 19

Your wife came by the house today. She and your best friend went in the other room to have their whispered conversation. Never mind that her husband killed my mother. Why would I be offended that she was in the house?

Oh, does she come for conjugal visits? Do those really happen in prison? I hope you don’t pass on a VD to her. I’m sure you’re getting plenty of action on your own in the cell block. Make sure to use a condom. At least that’s what they tell us in sex education. Of course, abstinence is always better, but that’s probably not an option for you, is it?

Yours, Angela

Dear Mr. Piani, June 25

Your wife has been over a lot lately, usually when your best friend’s wife is at her club meeting. I guess your wife needs someone to talk to. I’m just glad she’s not talking to me. I’d have to laugh in her face for marrying such a joke like you.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, June 27

I don’t think they’re “just talking” anymore. I heard other noises this time. Maybe it’s time I found a summer job.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, July 2




Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, July 5

I guess I didn’t have anything to say to you last time.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, July 9

Your best friend’s wife gave me a nice plot of land in the backyard. It’s hidden on the back of the property under a hug walnut tree. Matthew Carson and I are starting our own pot crop. Look at me, being promoted from smokee to seller. Can you imagine? Am I making you proud? I bet I am.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, July 14

Does it frustrate you that I don’t respond to anything you write in your letters? Do you know why I don’t? Because I don’t even bother opening them. I march straight into your best friend’s office and shred each and every last one. Now that I think about it, I should have sold them to some ghostwriter, made some money off of you at least.

Well, I’m off to the store to buy some tape. I have a project.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, July 20

She spoke to me today, your wife. She admitted her affair with your best friend. She thought I’d get a kick out of it, you know, her getting back at you, in retribution for your killing my mother. I laughed right along with her. She thought I was on her side, but I could never side with anyone but you. It’s another inevitable.

So, laughing, I told her that I had a funny story to tell her about you. She didn’t think it was very funny, though. I guess it’s not natural for fathers to try and seduce their daughters.

Yours, Angela


Dear Mr. Piani, August 3

I don’t think I’m going to be writing to you anymore. Matthew and I are pretty busy with our booming business. I’ll be a senior in high school at the end of the month. One of my friend’s parent’s is paying to have my senior photos taken on the condition that I take my septum piercing out for the sitting.

I still think of my mother every day. I doubt that will ever change. I do have you to thank for something. I never quite appreciated her as much as I should have when she was alive. Now, I can’t help but appreciate her. I can’t help but think of her. I can’t help but be reminded that she was the light and you were the darkness in my life. I know she is much happier now that you are out of her life, out of our lives.

Finally, in other news, your wife has ended the thing with your best friend. He seems bummed, but I figure it’s inevitable. He hasn’t killed anyone yet, but now, there’s always your wife.

Yours, Angela