I was actually surprised when my foot doctor offered me a job as his receptionist on my second office visit. I started working for this almost 70-year-old doctor about two months ago on a part-time basis.

Things were working out well at the beginning. I would only work twice a week, and he even offered to pay me in cash. In addition, the job is located pretty close to my school.

This all seemed too good to be true. (It was.) After the doctor returned from his one-week vacation, things started to change. One day, while I was putting files away in the back of his office, he got up from his chair and landed his old, married, saggy lips on my mouth and kissed me.

Besides being freaked out, embarrassed and humiliated, I stood there motionless. From that day on, I have allowed his kissing and fondling to continue because of plain fear: fear of him claiming me on his taxes as an employee and ruining my eligibility for my scholarship (it's only for unemployed students).

Most of all, I'm afraid of him. Now he keeps bringing up the subject of sex. I can plainly see what he expects of me next. Please advise me on what to do, because this situation has stressed me out so much that it's ruining my health. — Freaked by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dear Freak: You need to stop this now and quit. Then go to whatever agency supervises him, perhaps your state board of registration in medicine, and file a harassment complaint. I seriously doubt he will claim you as an employee. (Helloooooo. The cash was to avoid the tax man and any record of you.)

Whatever you're being paid by the old lech isn't worth it, and what you're putting yourself through will likely have long-term emotional consequences for you. I will forgo the morality lecture. — Margo, incredulously

BEING THE WHITE SHEEP OF THE FAMILY

Dear Margo: In the past seven years, I have emerged from the belly of hell, coming from a very poor neighborhood, a mother who's a heavy marijuana user, a broken, fatherless home, and years of witnessing my mother's abusive relationships involving domestic violence.

I married my high school sweetheart. We've moved away from family (we're in the military) and are very pleased with the way our life is going. The only problem is that I feel I have left my family to suffer in their environment while I am off to new and better things.

I have weekly telephone conferences about my siblings' abusive relationships, low income, lack of transportation, employment problems, as well as my mother's continued marijuana use, unemployment and current relationship with a drug trafficker. I feel helpless that I cannot help them out. I wouldn't know where to start!

My husband never has these types of problems with his family, and with him being the main breadwinner, I can't ask him to take care of my family and us. These issues are a huge burden for me. I feel I escaped and left my family in Alcatraz. What is a sister/daughter to do to help her loved ones? — Feeling Like I'm on Parole

Dear Feel: Were your husband a wealthy man, there still would not be enough money to "fix" your family. These problems would not necessarily be solved with money. It sounds as though you are feeling almost guilty that you "escaped" and made a better life.

The thing you can do, to the best of your ability, is to communicate with your sibs, offering moral support, encouragement to turn things around and suggestions about groups that could help them. More than that you cannot do. — Margo, constructively

Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers' daughter. To learn more about Margo Howard or to read features by other writers, visit creators.com.