Big sister owes little sister for work rendered

Dear Annie: I have two daughters. The oldest, “Linda,” has a portrait photography business. Occasionally, Linda needs an assistant to accompany her for outdoor photography sessions. Last summer, she hired her younger sister, “Mallory,” to work several shoots with her. She promised to pay her.

A few weeks later, Linda’s boyfriend took Mallory to buy an expensive video system. Without consulting Linda, he told Mallory to go in with him on the system, and that his half-payment would cover Linda’s debt to Mallory for the photo sessions. Mallory consented, assuming the video system would be hers, and the two of them bought the system and brought it home for everyone to enjoy.

A few months later, Linda broke up with her boyfriend, and he took the video system. He told Mallory to get her money back from Linda, since she owed it to her anyway for the photo sessions. Linda says her boyfriend never had the authority to enter into an agreement with Mallory, who was only 13 at the time.

Now the video system and the boyfriend are long gone, but Linda doesn’t think she has to pay Mallory. She says Mallory made an agreement with the boyfriend, and it’s just tough luck it didn’t pan out. Meanwhile, Mallory wants to get paid something for the work she did for her sister. (Linda could very well need Mallory’s assistance in the future, and I doubt she’d get it.) How do we fix this? – The Referee

Dear Referee: No 13-year-old should be held responsible for entering into an agreement with an adult. Linda’s boyfriend took advantage of Mallory, and Linda is no better because she refuses to reimburse Mallory for her share of the video system or pay her for the work she did. We say, Linda still owes Mallory for the photo sessions. We hope she will do the right thing and pay up.

Dear Annie: I am 11 years old, and I need help. My dad is the band director in my school district. I am in the band, and I hate it. Really. Dad won’t let me quit, even though I want to. When I ask my parents if I can stop, they say, “No.”

You have to have a signed letter from your parents saying you officially quit before you can get out of band. Shouldn’t I have some say in this? It’s my life. – Musical Dropper

Dear Dropper: It must be disappointing to Dad that you don’t like band. He wants so much for you to enjoy it as much as he does. Do you have talent? If so, please stick with it. Otherwise, talk to your parents and explain that band just isn’t for you. Promise to stay, without complaint, until the end of the semester (it’s not so far away), if they will let you find a different extracurricular activity for next year. If they won’t budge, talk to your school counselor for back-up.

Dear Annie: Yesterday, I was diagnosed with genital herpes. I contracted it through a cold sore on my boyfriend’s lip while he performed oral sex. I had no idea that was possible. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me, and I have never felt so gross and ashamed in my life.

I don’t think a lot of people are aware that you can get herpes this way. Can you please tell me where I can find some sort of support group to make dealing with this easier? – Embarrassed for Life

Dear Embarrassed: Yes, you can get genital herpes through oral sex, if your partner has a cold sore. Both are forms of the herpes simplex virus. For information and support, contact the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org) at P.O. Box 13827, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709. Thank you for sharing your story and helping our readers today.