Hostess left sleepover guest alone

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My 16-year-old daughter had a friend stay over Saturday night. On Sunday morning my daughter went to Sunday school and church service (10 to 12 o’clock) with her boyfriend. My daughter almost never goes to church.

I objected to her going, but gave in and told her she could go only for Sunday school. Due to an alleged misunderstanding, my daughter stayed for church service as well.

Her friend was hurt. My eldest daughter (dead-tired) drove her home because my youngest was not back in time to do so.

I think my daughter should have skipped her Sunday date (which had been tentative all along), and that I was wrong to give in and she to insist on going. She disagrees. What do you think? Are any apologies in order?

GENTLE READER: Not just apologies, but groveling apologies are in order. Miss Manners can imagine how that poor young lady felt, waiting around awkwardly for a hostess who decided she had better things to do.

Perhaps the religious angle befuddled you into condoning such an outrageous sin against hospitality. (Parenting tip: No, the incentive was the boyfriend.) But in that case, the guest should have been told in advance about the plan to attend church and invited to go along. If she chose not to, she could have departed earlier.

Your daughter, in apologizing to her friend, pretty much needs to plead insanity, that she doesn’t know what she was thinking, that she was confused about what everyone was doing when – and then blubber about how awful she feels, how she stupidly missed spending more time with her friend, and so on. She should then issue another invitation.

And you should instruct her thoroughly on hostess duties before permitting her to be one.