'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: Steve and I had been dating for about four months, but I broke up with him because I felt trapped in the relationship. He liked me much more than I liked him. I delayed breaking up with him because he is so fragile; I was afraid he'd be unable to cope with it.

Finally, I got the nerve to tell him our relationship was over. He did what I thought he would do — he cried. I felt so bad for him that I couldn't even face him at school. I wanted to call him and tell him that I still cared for him as a friend, but I decided not to.

I finally had my best friend call him just to see how he was doing and, lo and behold, she started calling him regularly and then started going out with him. At first it didn't bother me, but after a while, I started thinking about the fun Steve and I had together and I actually became jealous that my best friend was dating my ex-boyfriend. I really wouldn't consider going out with Steve if my best friend stopped seeing him. So, why do I feel this way? — Beth, Baltimore.

BETH: Our emotions are always playing tricks on us. Jealousy can spring to life on the flimsiest of pretexts and proceed to make our lives miserable. The fact that your best friend is dating your ex makes you wonder whether you SHOULD be jealous, and instantly, you are — even though you have no interest in ever dating Steve again.

Your best bet is simply to refuse to dwell on such groundless jealousy. When the emotion arises, laugh it off and let it go. Wish the couple well and get on with your life.

MY BROTHER SMOKES CORN SILK

DR.

WALLACE: My brother hangs around with a group of guys who smoke, but it isn't marijuana or tobacco. They smoke the silk from corn that has been dried. They then roll it into cigarette paper that they buy at a "smoke shop." My brother has convinced our mother that smoking corn silk is completely safe and gives him a mild "high."

I never heard of anyone smoking corn silk, so I'm not quite sure if it is a health hazard or not. Can you enlighten me? My brother told our mother that his best friend's father smoked corn silk when he was a teenager in Tennessee. — Nameless, Brunswick, Ga.

NAMELESS: Every time a person inhales smoke of any kind, the lung tissue is damaged to some degree. Make sure your mother and brother read your question and my response.

CELL PHONES AT SCHOOL ARE A DISTRACTION

DR. WALLACE: Our school principal announced that cell phones cannot be brought to school anymore. A few students "smuggled" them into the classroom and someone called causing a disturbance. I don't think this rule is fair. I'd like to be able to call my parents if a serious problem occurred at school.

Why didn't the principal say that cell phones could be brought to school, but had to remain in the student's locker? — Jill, Evansville, Ind.

JILL: Cell phones can be useful, but they can also be a distraction, especially on a school campus. I agree with your principal's decision.

Dr. Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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