Dear Amy: I am a freshman in high school and have a predicament. I am at a standoff with myself.
My friend offered to sell me a video game system in great condition for a very low price.
I feel like I would be crazy not to buy it, but after looking into things a little bit, I found out that the person he got it from might have stolen it.
What should I do, and how do I tell my friend that I don’t want to buy it after I told him that I would? — Confused
Dear Confused: Not only is it just plain wrong to purchase stolen property — it is also dumb. If you purchased the game system and the rightful owners discovered you had it, you would have to give it back to them — and your middleman would most likely not refund your money.
Now is also a good time to learn that an offer that seems “too good to be true,” usually is.
Taking possession of something that doesn’t really belong to you is morally wrong, so don’t do it.
You don’t have to go into detail with your friend. Just say, “I thought I wanted to buy it, but now I don’t. I’m sorry.” If he gives you a hard time, then he’s not much of a friend.
Dear Amy: I feel that I have to respond to the letter writer who was wondering how to tell her elderly parent that her house was filthy. She said she didn’t want to eat a meal there.
My parents got loopier as time went by and my mother had always been a pristine housekeeper. When they got older and the house started to get messy, my siblings and I just did some of the housework ourselves. We would do the dishes after dinner, wipe down all the counters and toss the outdated food from the fridge while we were putting away the leftovers. We took out the trash and swept the floor without being asked.
When you use the restroom, clean it. Your parents might object and get defensive if you proclaim that you are doing a full top-to-bottom cleaning. — The Middle Child
Dear Middle Child: My siblings and I are also currently caring for someone who needs our help. I completely agree with your point of view and great suggestions.
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