DR. WALLACE: I will be graduating soon. Each graduate is allowed to invite up to six guests and is given six tickets. Graduation will be held in our gymnasium, which will hold about a thousand people. My six tickets will go to my mother, two brothers and a sister, plus my mother's parents. My parents have been divorced for more than five years and other than paying support for his children, our family has no contact with dad. That's because my mother wants nothing to do with my dad.

Dad remarried about a year ago. I keep up with his whereabouts by calling his mother, my grandma. I asked Grandma if my dad would like to come to my high-school graduation. She said she would find out. In a couple of days, she called and said that Dad would be thrilled to see his daughter graduate. I told my mother that I was inviting Dad to the graduation ceremony, and she seemed very surprised and stammered, "All of your tickets are spoken for." I told her that my friend was only going to use three of her tickets and would give me the extras. Mom then said, "If you wish, invite your dad, but I hope that you won't invite his wife."

Should I honor mom's wish, or should I tell Dad that his wife is also invited? Please tell me what to do. I really need your help. —Melanie, Reno, Nev.

MELANIE: Invite both your father and your stepmother, and with the extra ticket, also invite your dad's mother (your other grandmother). You only graduate from high school one time, and you should have as many who love you as possible to share in your wonderful experience!

GUYS DON'T ABUSE "LITTLE SISTERS"

DR. WALLACE: If you don't print my letter, I won't know who to turn to next. I'm 16 and love a guy who is 18. My dad owns an auto-repair shop, and he works for my dad. My problem is that he has a girlfriend. He sees me behind her back, and every time he does, we have sex. I told him to break up with his girlfriend, but he won't. He said he thinks of me as his little sister. What should I do? Sometimes I think that he is just using me. —Nameless, San Diego, Calif.

NAMELESS: This guy is using you. Whenever he wants sex, you, foolishly, grant his wish. When he satisfies his urge, he forgets about you until the next time. Stop seeing this guy immediately. The "ingredients" in love include mutual trust, respect, forgiveness and understanding. Sex should never enter into a dating relationship.

P.S: Most guys protect their "little sisters." They don't abuse them!

SHOULD I FORGIVE MY EX-FRIEND?

DR. WALLACE: Jenny and I were friends since second grade, but for the past year or so, all she did was try to get me in trouble — at school, with my parents, with other friends and even with my boyfriend. I must admit that there are times I miss Jenny, but after all the trouble she got me into, we will never be close friends again. Many times I told her things in strict confidence only to have it come back to me from family or friends. She would never tell big lies about me, but she often greatly exaggerated what I said.

My boyfriend said that she has a mental problem and that I should forgive her. No matter what she has or doesn't have, forgiveness is out of the question. Your comments, please. —Nameless, Fresno, Calif.

NAMELESS: Forgive her, but the friendship should remain at an end.

Dr. Robert 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. Email him at [email protected]. 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.