In France, the young assistant pastors do
not live in the main rectory. That is reserved for the Pastor and his housekeeper. One day
the pastor invited his new young assistant pastor to have dinner at the rectory.
While being served, the young pastor
noticed how shapely and lovely the housekeeper was and down deep in his heart he wondered
if there was more between the pastor and the housekeeper.
After the meal was over, the middle-aged
pastor assured the young priest that everything was purely professional...that she was the
housekeeper and cook and that was that.
About a week later the housekeeper came to
the pastor and said, "Father, ever since the new assistant came for dinner I have not
been able to find the beautiful silver gravy laddle. You don't suppose he took it, do
you?"
The Pastor said, "Well, I doubt it but
I'll write him a letter." So he sat down and wrote, "Dear Father, I'm not saying
you did take the gravy laddle and I'm not saying you did not take the gravy laddle. But
the fact remains that it has been missing since you were here for dinner."
The young assistant received the letter,
and he answered it as follows: "Dear Father Pastor, I'm not saying that you do sleep
with the housekeeper and I'm not saying that you do not sleep with the housekeeper. But I
do know for sure that if you slept in your own bed you would find the gravy laddle."
