Infidelity Fears

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Questions about pets, parents, partners or office politics? E-mail Jeanne Marie Laskas at advice@rd.com Sending gives us permission to edit and publish.

Question
I planned a tag sale to raise a little money before moving, but offered a friend her choice of items for free beforehand. Well, she accepted all right -- and brought along a pal I didn't know. Before I could say anything, they walked off with half my salable goods. I'm so angry, I can't talk to my friend. Should I lay it on her now?
-- Angry

Dear Angry,
Hold your horses! You should have spoken as soon as the freeloaders started packing up your stuff. Now it's too late. You can drive yourself crazy rehashing what you should have said or done, but that sort of thinking only prolongs the pain. You've learned a lesson about unexpected behavior (and greed). Let the knickknacks go, and don't let this sour your charitable spirit.

Question
A boy and I are planning a cross-country car trip. We're 18. My mother adamantly disapproves. She never says why, but she means sex. We're just friends. Really! I'm legal age. I'm paying for the trip. But she's making me feel guilty. How can I get her to grow up?
-- Big Plans

Dear Big Plans,
No sexual overtones on a long road trip with an 18-year-old boy? Are you kidding me, or yourself? You may be legally able to make your own decisions (and your mom knows that), but make sure you know your own mind. Don't let an On the Road episode create a permanent detour with your mother.

Question
I work at a supermarket, and another girl and I share tasks we must finish before leaving. But she takes half an hour to do something I can do in ten minutes. She always has a story to tell me, and stops working when she does. My boss is ticked at both of us, but it's not my fault. I don't want to rat her out, but what else can I do?
-- Flustered

Dear Flustered
Let me propose a better way. Make a log of all the tasks you and Ms. Windbag share, then suggest to your boss that for efficiency your duties could be divided into two separate checklists. If he's reluctant, go to plan B: The next time this girl starts telling you a story, stop working to listen and call your boss over to hear what a great storyteller she is. I'm sure he'll take it from there.

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