Teacher fails in romance
Dear Harriette: A summer-school teacher at a local charter school, I have managed to spark up a secret romance with the principal. Initially, I wasn’t interested because he’s my brother’s best friend and he gave me the job as a favor. After a series of dinner dates and preferential treatment, I guess you could say he got to me.
Well, the honeymoon has ended. He constantly humiliates me in front of the other teachers, and forces me to adhere to the outlandish school rules, but lets the others slide. How do I encourage him to separate business from personal? — Stephanie, Washington, D.C.
Dear Stephanie: Although the principal was absolutely wrong, you must accept that you squandered the opportunity your brother presented by getting involved with your boss. Now you are paying the price.
Start fresh. Regardless of how the principal treats other teachers, follow the guidelines and do your job well. End all intimate interaction with the principal, if you haven’t already. Apologize to him for crossing that line, and ask him to let the past go and start fresh, too.
Inform your brother of what has occurred, as the man in question is his best friend. Do your best not to get entangled in situations like this again. It will probably take a while before the dust settles.
Dear Harriette: I recently asked my roommate to return a dress because she works near the store where I purchased it. She came back, saying they would not accept the dress because it appeared to have been worn. I didn’t wear it, so I found that strange. The dress is now sitting in my closet in the store bag.
Today, I received an e-mail with pictures from a recent party, which showed my roommate — surprise! — wearing the dress. I have proof she wore it, so, with this proof, is it fair to collect the money for the dress? I would have received a full refund if she had not taken this liberty and then lied about it. My other roommate thinks I should just let it go, but she deceived me outright. I want my money. How can I get it without making a bad situation worse? — Shayla, Chicago, Ill.
Dear Shayla: The main issue here is deceit. You should definitely approach your roommate with the evidence and ask her why she wore your dress, tried to return it and then lied about what happened. Everything about her actions reeks of the reality that you cannot trust her. You can ask her for your money back, but it’s unlikely she’ll pay.
In the future, put a lock on your closet and your bedroom door. This may seem extreme, but you already have the proof you need to protect your valuables. Next time, don’t forget to handle your own business!