Don’t mock cautious friend

Dear Miss Manners: I have a friend, “Maya,” who has been very cautious about the virus. I respect her choices, but I’ve been quite a bit more “out there.” I wear a mask and social distance. Maya has “tsk, tsked” me this whole time and said some insulting things about my intelligence.

Well, guess who got the virus? She did! I have remained healthy and active and have tested negative several times.

Luckily, Maya was able to recover without hospitalization. I feel she owes me some sort of apology, or at least an acknowledgment that her “I’m better than you” attitude was wrong. Should I open a conversation or just let it go?

Gentle reader: We try not to pick on sick people. Yes, Miss Manners knows that Maya was picking on you, but as you object to that, you should not be returning it in kind.

Dear Miss Manners: I recently needed to contact my neighbors regarding an issue with our building. I know all of them by name, and have their telephone numbers, except one couple.

So last Saturday around 10 a.m., I went upstairs to their floor and rang the doorbell. I waited for what seemed like a long enough time, and then rang the doorbell a second time. Figuring no one was home, I decided to leave.

As soon as I entered the lift, I heard their door open, and immediately popped out again to talk to them. I explained why I needed to talk with them, we discussed the issue, exchanged phone numbers, and I left. Should I not have rung the doorbell twice?

Gentle reader: As a general rule, two knocks and after 10 a.m. work fine. Both of you came out unscathed. Or you could have left a note under the door.

To send a question to the Miss Manners team of Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, go to missmanners.com or write them c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.