In Ireland there is a tradition: a dying man may ask one last question, and it has to be answered truthfully.
Seamus was on his deathbed, and gathered around him were his wife and four sons. Three of his sons were fine, tall men but the fourth… wasn’t. Aiden was a bit scrawny and quite unlike his brothers in many other ways.
Seamus asks his wife: “Mary… I’ve not much time left. I want to ask you something that’s bothered me for many a day. Please tell me the truth… is Aiden really my son?”
Mary says: “Seamus, as God is my witness I swear on all that is good and holy that Aiden is indeed your child.”
With that, Seamus breathed a sigh of relief, and passed on peacefully. Mary closed his eyes, pulled the blanket over his face and thought to herself:
“Thank God he didn’t ask about the other three!”