DR. WALLACE: One of our school's popular student athletes was killed when the car he was driving missed a curve and ran into a tree. He was killed instantly. The highway patrol reported that excessive speed caused the collision. Our entire school, including our teachers and administrators, are in shock. It's hard to conceive that a happy, healthy teen can be gone in the "blinking of an eye." I knew this fellow well. I dated him several times, but we were not considered to be a serious couple. His death troubled me so severely that I could not attend his funeral. Most of my good friends did and wanted to know why I wasn't there to pay my last respects. I explained my reasons for not attending his funeral, but now I'm starting to feel guilty for not going. Please give me your thoughts on my serious dilemma. —Nameless, Toronto, Ontario

NAMELESS: Grieving is very personal. You have no reason to feel guilty because you did not attend the funeral. It would be thoughtful to send a card or note to his parents expressing how much their son meant to you. They will enjoy hearing from you.

TELL DAD TO SAVE HIS MONEY

DR. WALLACE: Last school year, I failed a history class, and I decided to take a history class in summer school so I could be eligible to play baseball this spring. I'm considered to be a good pitcher. I don't smoke, but during a break in summer school, a teacher walked into the bathroom and caught me taking a puff of a cigarette just to see what it felt like. It wasn't even my cigarette. I was holding the cigarette for another student who was using the bathroom. I was suspended for one day, and I didn't complain.

Now I'm complaining. The rule on smoking is that if you are suspended from school for smoking, you are ineligible to participate in sports for a year. I have been told by our baseball coach that I am ineligible to participate this year because I broke the smoking rule. Since summer school attendance is not mandatory in attendance, I think that I should be permitted to play baseball this year. My dad thinks an attorney could help my school change its mind.

Since you are a former high school administrator, you should know if an attorney could help. Please tell me what you think. —Nameless, Newark, N.J.

NAMELESS: Tell Dad to never mind hiring an attorney and to just save his money. You were caught and suspended from school for smoking, and it doesn't matter if it was in summer school or if the cigarette was yours. You broke the smoking rule, and it cost you dearly. Continue to practice and work out whenever you can so you can join the high school baseball team next year.

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.