TEENS: There's a good chance that one of these days you'll be in a situation where alcohol is present and someone will say, "Come on, try it, it won't hurt you." How would you respond?

Here, thanks to Cindy in East Chicago, Indiana, are several better replies than just "No thank you." She says to look the person straight in the eye and say:

—"My suspicious parents will check my breath when I get home." Or...

—"I'd rather not drink. Alcohol makes me feel sick." Or...

—"No, thanks, but I'll have a soft drink if you have one." Or...

—"No, thank you. I just don't like the taste of alcohol."

Our thanks to Cindy for sharing these handy responses. Sometimes teens receive a bad rap from the actions of a few. In reality, the majority of teens respect Cindy's views.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT HE WAS FOUND INNOCENT

DR. WALLACE: About a year ago, one of my closest friends accused one of our male teachers of having sex with her. The case eventually went to court and the jury found the teacher not guilty. This makes my girlfriend look like she was lying and I'm sure she wasn't.

This teacher was on paid leave of absence while the trial was going on, but now that he was found innocent he's back teaching summer school. I think this is a disgrace because deep down in my heart I really think he is guilty. Also, he is a very bad teacher. He never smiles and he gives tons of homework. Most of the kids at our school think he should be fired. — Nameless, Chicago, Ill.

NAMELESS: I realize that a case like this will be discussed endlessly by the entire student body and most students will form an opinion. But the bottom line is that the teacher was found innocent in a court of law and therefore is entitled to return to teaching. And the amount of homework he gives has nothing to do with it.

HE SIGNED HIS LETTERS WITH LOVE

DR. WALLACE: Last year at a church-sponsored summer retreat, I met a boy from Oakland and we really hit it off. When the retreat ended, we promised to write to each other faithfully. I wrote to him twice a week and he answered every single letter. He even signed his letters, "Love, Ryan." We planned to attend the same retreat this summer and I was really excited at the thought of seeing him again.

Well, I went to this year's retreat, but Ryan was a no-show. I called him from the retreat and his mother said that Ryan had gone fishing for a week with his girlfriend's father. When I heard that, I was speechless. All I said was, "Thanks," and I hung up the phone.

My question is this. Should I continue writing to Ryan or should I wait for him to contact me, if he ever does? — Megan, San Diego, Calif.

MEGAN: What a shocking way to learn about Ryan's change of plans. Waiting for him to contact you is likely to keep you immobilized with a sense of false hope. Take the initiative. Contact him and say you're sorry he missed an enjoyable retreat, but you hope he had fun on his fishing trip. Then go on with your life, not expecting a reply from him.

If he does contact you, you can base your decision on whether to continue the correspondence on the honesty and sincerity of his response.

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. E-mail 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.

Photo credit: Rob Bertholf