DR. WALLACE: As a girl who is a sophomore in high school, I take my appearance and hygiene very seriously. Typically, when I have a break, I'll go to the ladies' room and splash a little water on my face to make sure it's clean and it also feels so refreshing. I'll then take out a really small mini toothbrush that I keep in my pocket and I'll brush my teeth for 30 to 40 seconds, dry it off and put it back in my pocket.

A girlfriend of mine happened to notice me doing this a couple of times last week and after the second time, later in the day, she asked me if I was compulsive obsessive! I, of course, told her that I wasn't, but she remained incredulous that I wash my face and brush my teeth so often during the day. Do you think I actually am compulsive obsessive, and if so, do I need treatment? — Highly Hygienic Girl, via email

HIGHLY HYGIENIC GIRL: Based on your letter, I would say that you are decidedly not compulsive obsessive. You are not doing anything to the detriment of other aspects of your life and in fact, you're taking just short snippets of time to address your personal hygiene.

I see nothing wrong with that at all, so in my non-medical opinion, I don't think you'll be needing any treatment for keeping yourself clean. Instead, I extend kudos to you for using short bites of your time in a wise way.

THEIR PRACTICAL JOKES ARE NO LAUGHING MATTER

DR. WALLACE: I have two twin younger brothers who seemingly exist only to come up with devious plans to pull practical jokes on me. Over the past two months, they've pulled three unsavory practical jokes at my expense and after the third one I went to our parents and explained what was going on.

They were not amused at all and grounded the twins for a week since two of the three practical jokes definitely crossed lines of decency and respectfulness. They told them there would be a larger punishment in the future if another practical joke was pulled on me again. So far, there hasn't been one, but every time I see them together, they will start whispering amongst themselves as if they're cooking up a new plan to get me again. Of course, I can't prove this, but I just know they're itching to do it to me again, especially if they can figure out how to get away with it and escape any blame.

What can I do about this? I can't exactly go to my parents again if they haven't pulled the next practical joke on me just yet. — My Twin Brothers are Devious, via email

MY TWIN BROTHERS ARE DEVIOUS: Sounds to me like your twin brothers are seeking to "get your goat" without actually doing anything other than pretending they're creating another practical joke to hatch upon you.

They are obviously looking for a reaction and the more that you stare at them or take the bait that they are offering, the worse off you'll be. The best course of action is to just look at them and laugh and walk away. Don't give it another second thought!

If they are foolish enough to pull another practical joke at your expense, they will richly earn an increased punishment that you can relish watching the implementation of. In the meantime, carry on and pretend as if they've never done anything wrong to you, ever. You could really blow their minds by doing something nice for them and then walking away as if everything is nonchalant in your world. Hopefully, they'll soon get tired of this and gradually they may mature a little at a time — but don't hold your breath!

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.

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