DR. WALLACE: Laurie, Mindy and I all live close to each other in the same neighborhood and we are very best friends. About three weeks ago, Sherry moved to our neighborhood. She is our age and will attend our local school with us in the fall. Our families met in church, and we all sort of became friends right away.

My parents have been out to dinner with Sherry's parents and I spent the night at her house last weekend. I introduced Sherry to Laurie and Mindy and I thought they would like her a lot, but it turned out that for some reason Laurie didn't like Sherry and she convinced Mindy to think the same way.

Yesterday, when I called Laurie about attending her birthday party in three weeks, I asked her if I could invite Sherry since it would be a wonderful chance for her to meet some new friends before school starts in September. Laurie got really mad and said no, and that she didn't care if I came to her party or not, and then she hung up.

Do you think I should go to the party, or not? — Carla, Kansas City, Kans.

CARLA: It appears that Laurie and Mindy are jealous of your newfound friendship with Sherry. Attend the party, but don't discuss your friendship with

Sherry.

If the time ever comes when you have to choose between staying close to Laurie and Mindy, or with Sherry — choose Sherry!

I TOOK THE EASY WAY OUT

DR. WALLACE: Kevin and I had been dating for over nine months, but I felt smothered in the relationship, so I decided to break up with him. I knew doing this would be difficult because he really cared for me.

I couldn't face him, so I took the easy way out — by writing him a "Dear John" letter. I told him I'd no longer be seeing him and encouraged him to move on with his life and find another girlfriend.

A couple of weeks later, Kevin wrote to me thanking me for being honest with him and told me he was now dating a certain girl I know.

Well, it so happens that I despise this girl. She used to be a friend of mine several years ago, but our friendship ended because she was smoking pot and drinking with her then-boyfriend. She also became sexually active and her stories of her sexual exploits were shocking.

Should I write a letter to warn Kevin about this girl's sordid past? — Nameless, Montgomery, Ala.

NAMELESS: You encouraged Kevin to move on with his life and to find another girlfriend. This is what he did. Keep your mouth shut. Move on with your own life and find another boyfriend, one that will not "smother" you.

And if he is the "smothering" type, have the courage to tell him goodbye to his face and not hide behind a "Dear John" letter.

YOUR QUESTION ISN'T SILLY

DR. WALLACE: How old do you think a girl should be before she starts dating? When I ask my parents, they ask me why I always ask such a silly question. — Nameless, Monmouth, Ill.

NAMELESS: Your question isn't silly. To every non-dating teen it is of utmost importance, and smart parents will not belittle it.

Teens should be allowed to start dating when they have the maturity to obey and respect the rules set by their parents and make intelligent choices. The age varies, but most teens are mature enough to date somewhere between 15 and 17.

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.