Homecoming simply a school tradition DEAR ONLY A DANCE: Your girlfriend needs to be less controlling and more understanding. You have already explained that not taking someone to the homecoming dance is frowned upon in your community. So what if you are

Homecoming is next month, and we are not allowed to take outside dates. My girlfriend goes to a different school and doesn’t want me taking anyone else. My school is very small (only 60 kids in the whole high school) and not asking a girl to the dance is frowned upon. It’s the custom to ask one of your classmates to homecoming.

My girlfriend grew up in a bigger school where homecoming is much more important. She’s convinced I’m going to be someone else’s Prince Charming for the night. What she can’t understand is that it’s nothing like that where I go. Taking someone to the dance at my school isn’t romantic — it’s a gentlemanly thing to do. You pick any girl who hasn’t been asked and go with her.

I’d like to ask someone — as friends only — to the homecoming dance, but my girlfriend gets incredibly

upset when I talk about it.

Please tell me what to do. — Only dance in Texas “woman to woman.” treatment and testing due to the FIV exposure? I have asked if she could offer Sox my brand of kibble at her house so he’ll be less interested in coming to our house unless he really needs food or water. She refused. I’m not sure if I’m asking too much, or if I should expect her to work with me to help offset the costs of her free-roaming, Fiv-infected kitty. — Feline care