John invited his mother over for dinner. During the meal, his mother couldn't help noticing how attractive and shapely the housekeeper was. Over the course of the evening, she started to wonder if there was more between John and the housekeeper than met the eye. Reading his mother's thoughts, John volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, my relationship with my housekeeper is purely professional."

About a week later, the housekeeper cam to John and said, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" John said, "I doubt it, but I'll write her a letter just to be sure."

So he sat down and wrote:  "Dear Mother, I'm not saying you DID take a gravy ladle from my house, and I'm not saying you DID NOT take a gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner."

Several days later John received a letter from his mother, which read, "Dear Son, I'm not saying that you DO sleep with your housekeeper, and I'm not saying that you DO NOT sleep with your housekeeper. But the fact remains that if she were sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love, Mom."