Dear Margo: I have a problem I think some of your readers may have had. I have been dating a girl for about a year and a half. Everything is pretty good in our relationship, and generally we get along well. The problem I have is that we were out one night, on a holiday, and we drank too much.

We were supposed to stay in a room downtown so neither of us would have to drive anywhere. Well, at some point during the night we started to argue, and when we got to the hotel, it escalated a little, and she called her sister to come pick her up. Well, her sister and brother did come ... along with her father.

Since that night everything has been OK, but now I am nervous about going to her parents' house. I am not sure what they think of me and whether I should be apologizing to her dad for making him worry about his daughter and drive a half-hour to come pick her up.

She says her parents were more worried about me, so I decided to seek counseling to figure out what was making me get angry like that. I just don't know what to do, and I am kind of ashamed to show my face in their presence. — Mortified

Dear Mort: It sounds as though your girlfriend's parents do not have it in for you, which is about as positive a response as you could ask for. It would certainly be acceptable to mention that you greatly regret the events of that night.

And that brings me to something that may reduce the number of visits to your therapist: Arguing after drinking too much is often the result of ... drinking too much. This is perhaps something you might want to think about. — Margo, intuitively

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU MEAN "NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS"

Dear Margo: I speak with a slight lisp, a speech impediment I've had since I was a child. Speech therapy did not cure it, and although it makes me self-conscious, I have long since learned to live with it.

My problem is that a surprising number of people comment on it. It always leaves me flustered and at a loss for how to respond. Adults are generally more tactful, leading in with a question along the lines of, "Is your tongue pierced?" or "Do you wear those invisible braces?" Children are usually more blunt, asking, "Why do you talk funny?"

Needless to say, I mutter something along the lines of, "No, I just have a lisp" to the adults, or, "Some people just talk differently" to the children. I would like to know your suggestions for an appropriate, dignified response that would strongly discourage any further conversation of the matter? — Embarrassed To "Talk Funny"

Dear Emb: You know what I find interesting about this? Having a lisp is not the lingual equivalent of a rare and little-known condition. In fact, it's somewhat common. Why are these people even asking? (I am talking now about the grownups.)

For these people, I would cut right to the chase and say, "I lisp," or, "I have a speech impediment." Believe me, next time they will not be so fast with an improper question. As for children, most of whom really do say whatever is on their minds, simply stick with your idea that people talk differently.

And do remember that there is such a thing as "over answering." Also, you need not be shy about showing your displeasure with either a raised eyebrow or your tone. — Margo, snarkily

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.