Paddy had long heard the stories of an amazing

family tradition.

It seems that his father, grandfather and

great-grandfather had all been able to walk

on water on their 18th birthday.

On that special day, they 'd each walked across

the lake to the pub on the far side for their first

legal drink.

So when Paddy 's 18th birthday came around,

he and his pal Mick, took a boat out to the middle

of the lake, Paddy, stepped out of the boat ...and 

nearly drowned!

Mick just barely managed to pull him to safety.

Furious and confused, Paddy went to see his

grandmother ..

"Grandma," he asked, "Tis me 18th birthday, so why

can 't I walk across the lake like me father, his father

and his father before him?"                             

Granny looked deeply into Paddy 's, troubled blue eyes

and said,

"Because ye father, ye grandfather and ye

great-grandfather were all born in December,

when the lake is frozen, and ye were born in August, you idiot!"