Aunt lays down the law with drug-dealing nephew

DEAR ABBY: I work for a law enforcement agency. Several months ago, my 23-year-old nephew, "Dion," moved in with me and my mother. Dion is not an orphan. Both his parents are living. Last month, I discovered that Dion has been smoking marijuana, and selling it, too. When I confronted him, his response was, "Marijuana is better than alcohol." I pointed out to him that alcohol is legal and marijuana isn't, and I don't want it in my house. I could lose my job over this, but he and Mom just don't seem to "get it."
I have told Dion he must be out by the middle of next month, but my mother isn't backing me up on this. I told Mom that either he goes or I do. Is she right? Am I being unreasonable? -AUNT AT THE END OF MY ROPE IN PASADENA

DEAR AUNT: I think twentysomethings who smoke dope all day are right up their with middle-aged people who still live with their parents: useless. Bitch and moan all you want, the problem is that Dion reminds you of you - going nowhere fast, except he gets to watch TV all day while you write parking tickets.

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 21-year-old woman with a best friend I'll call "Darren." Darren is the sweetest guy you would ever want to meet. He'll be a good husband to someone someday. My problem is that Darren wants a romantic relationship with me. He has wanted this ever since we met at work a year ago. Abby, I don't feel the same way about him. I have told him repeatedly that I want to be free to date whoever I want, and I don't consider going out on a "date" with him dating. I think of it as two friends hanging out. I have also told him he should go out with other women if he gets the chance, but he refuses. He says he likes only me. I recently met a hot guy named "Mike" I really like a lot. When I told Darren, he was jealous and hurt. He asked how I could consider a "date" with Mike, but not with him. I'm afraid if I decide to go steady with Mike it will hurt Darren, and that's the last thing I want to do. Do you think I led him on? Am I wrong for wanting to start a relationship with someone else? -SOUTHERN SIREN IN NEW ORLEANS

DEAR SOUTHERN: Guys like Darren, who have chicks for best friends, are either gay or complete pussies. And to me it sounds like Darren is the latter. So even if you didn't want to lead him on and you keep telling him that he's not the one, it means very little. Because of all the attention you've paid him already, you're stuck with him. My advice is to get some actual girlfriends, start banging Mike and wait out the storm of tears heading your way.

DEAR ABBY: Our daughter, "Brooke," is nearly 7 and very attached to our family dog, Tuffy. Tuffy is 13, deaf, going blind and has difficulty walking. We have spent a fortune keeping Tuffy with us, including tumor removals, but it has reached the point where we don't want him to suffer anymore. We are considering having him euthanized. We have discussed what will happen to Tuffy with Brooke. We asked her whether she would like to come with us when we take Tuffy to the vet, or if she'd like to say goodbye and stay with a friend while my wife and I go. She voted for the latter, but in discussing it further she gets very upset. The alternative is to lie to her and have Tuffy put down while Brooke is at school, and tell her that he passed away during the day. Either way, she will be very sad. All I want is to spare my daughter as much grief as possible. What do you think? -FEELING GUILTY IN SAN JOSE

DEAR FEELING: She's a kid. Lie to her. Next.

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating "Matt" for about a year. We have had a great relationship, and I really adore him. Not long ago, I had some severe financial setbacks, so we decided to move in together to help me with the expenses. Although Matt is good to me, he hasn't told me that he loves me. We share things that people who love each other do, and I kind of feel cheated - like the relationship is somehow incomplete. I talked to my girlfriends. They agree that if we live together and he essentially takes care of me, he should have told me by now. When I ask him about us and how he feels, he says, "I care a lot about you," and "You mean a lot to me." But when I asked why he hasn't said, "I love you," he told me he doesn't feel that way yet - to give him time. It leaves me feeling a terrible void. Am I being unfair to this relationship and myself? -LOVELESS IN WYOMING

DEAR LOVELESS: You greedy bitches don't know when to quit, do you? I mean, what exactly is wrong with him caring a lot about you, while carrying you financially? There are women the world over who would blow goats to get that much attention. So try to tough it out if you can. Or, if you really want to hear it, ask him if he loves you right before he comes. Guys will pretty much say anything then. CV

Comment on this story | Return to top