John invited his mother over for dinner. During the meal, his mother
couldn't help noticing how beautiful John's roommate Julie was. She
had long been suspicious of a relationship between John and his
roommate, and this only made her more curious.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she
started to wonder if there was more between John and the roommate
than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, John volunteered,
"I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Julie and I are
just roommates."

About a week later, Julie came to John and said, "Ever since your
mother came to dinner, I can't find the beautiful silver gravy ladle.
You don't suppose she took it, do you?" John said, "Well, 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. Love, John"

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