An old man lived alone in a small village. He wanted to dig up his potato garden, but it was very hard work for him as the ground was tough and he was old and weak. His only son, who used to help him, was currently in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: "Dear Son, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me. Love, Dad."

A few days later, he received a letter from his son: "Dear Dad, for heaven's sake, don't dig up that garden! That's where I buried the BODIES!"

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a group of police officers and local detectives showed up and dug up the entire area. They searched every inch of the garden but didn't find any bodies. Surprised and disappointed, they apologized to the old man and left.

That same day, the old man received another letter from his son: "Dear Dad, go ahead and plant the potatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances."

Meaning of the story: Even from behind bars, love and intelligence can find a way to help those we care about. The son used the system's own suspicion to do something kind for his father.