The Twins
Dear Frankie,
My friends Jack and Jill are twins. We usually meet three days a week at the park and have a great time together. That is when Jack is up to it. He has diabetes, so when he has a flare-up, he’s usually down for the count for a week.
Lately, Jill has been coming to the park alone and has started sharing information about Jack that I’m sure he wouldn’t want me, or anyone else, to know. On the off chance you publish my letter, I don’t want the world to know Jack’s business, so I will not tell you what Jill told me. You have to take my word for it that she shouldn’t be sharing this kind of information about her brother.
I want to tell Jill she is being disloyal by talking about Jack behind his back, but I’m afraid she will get mad and not want to be my friend.
Aretha
Dear Aretha,
Poor Jack, can you imagine, having childhood diabetes and a sister who runs her mouth about your dirty laundry? Talk about bad luck.
But blasting Jill will not get you anywhere, so I suggest you take a gentler approach when you speak to her. I think Jill might get mad if you told her she was being disloyal to her brother. So, I suggest you not do that.
You might approach your conversation with her by discussing how it makes you feel when she shares Jack’s secrets. Talking about your feelings would be easier for her to hear than being accused of being disloyal. You could start by saying that Jack is your friend, and when you listen to negative things said about him, you feel guilty and disloyal for being a willing participant. Then ask if she could respect your feelings and not share negative information about him in the future.
Then cross your paws so that the brat can do what you asked of her.
Best, Frankie
© 2023 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
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