DR. WALLACE: The last time my mother and I went shopping together, I saw her steal a pair of sunglasses from a drugstore. She didn't think I was watching her, but I happened to glance at her as she was putting the glasses in her purse. I was totally shocked, but didn't say anything because I thought she might pay for them before she left the store — but she didn't. It's been a week since the incident and I still haven't said or done anything about it. I'm not sure what I should do, if anything. I live with both parents and I'm an only child. — Nameless, Somewhere in Indiana.

NAMELESS: Tell Mom you saw her steal the sunglasses and ask her to explain why she didn't pay for them. Let's hope your concern about the matter puts enough of a spotlight on this behavior so that she doesn't do it again. If she denies stealing the glasses, tell your father and let him be the one to handle the problem. It's possible that Mom might need professional counseling.

EARN BEST POSSIBLE GRADES IN SCHOOL

DR. WALLACE: What's more important, getting three A's and three B's and not having a part-time job, or getting 6 B's and having a part-time, after-school job that pays good money and allows me to have a great social life (girlfriend and a car)? I'll make it to college regardless if I have a B average or a B+ average. — Jeff, Philadelphia, Pa.

JEFF: It's more important to earn the best possible grades that you can. But why should your grades suffer because you have a part-time job? I know many teens who have part-time jobs and their grades don't suffer. They readjust their study times.

YOUR UNCLE AND GRANDFATHER WERE FOOLING YOU

DR. WALLACE: I'm 12 and a big fan of University of Texas football. The Longhorns have had some great seasons. My uncle said his grandfather played in the biggest bowl of all, the Dust Bowl, and Texas came out the loser. I've tried to find out who they lost to, but I've had no luck and my uncle refuses to tell me. My own flesh and blood parents also won't tell me, either. They said I had to find out for myself. That's why I've written to you. Can you help me? — Rusty, Austin, Texas.

RUSTY: Texas was a loser in the great Dust Bowl held in the early 1930's. But Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and the Dakotas were also losers. There was no winner.

We are not discussing football, Rusty, but rather one of America's great tragedies. The name "Dust Bowl" was given to the manmade disaster in the wheat-growing region of the United States. Improper farming techniques caused uncontrollable soil erosion; precious topsoil literally blew away. The problem was aggravated by an extended drought. This was also the time of the Great Depression, with economic woes besetting every area of the country.

Thousands of farms in the Dust Bowl states failed because the farmers couldn't grow enough crops to make their land payments. Their farms were repossessed and families had to load what belongings they could into a car or truck and head West, abandoning house and property.

Now if your uncle starts giving you the word about the Punch Bowl in Hawaii, don't be fooled again. Go to a library and find out what it is. I'll give you a small clue. It has nothing to do with football.

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.