Party chauffeur gets raw deal: no thanks and no meal
I was asked to drive for a friend’s daughter’s birthday party, as my car can carry a few more passengers than my friend’s. My daughter was invited, so I didn’t mind too much. The event was a little over an hour away.
When the day came, no gas money was offered. My friend even suggested taking the girls to lunch at a pricier restaurant afterward. I split an appetizer with my friend, trying to save her some money. When the bill came, she asked the waiter to split our appetizer onto separate checks.
I was shocked that she was so inconsiderate. The party was at lunchtime (noon) and she never intended to feed the kids. In the end, I covered my daughter’s lunch, my half of the appetizer and the gas to get to the party.
In my opinion, this is very rude! Am I being unfair?
Gentle Reader:
Asking for gas money for a party that your daughter was attending seems to Miss Manners a bit miserly and ungracious. But apparently those traits run in your circle.
If your friend had no intention of feeding the children, then she should not have suggested going to a restaurant, nor held the event at noon. And she certainly should have thanked you for attending — with more than half a potato skin.
Dear Miss Manners:
I have a friend who hooked up with a woman he met at a local club. Come to find out, this woman knows his mother on a professional level. Is it OK to have a relationship with this person?
Just wondering.
Gentle Reader:
If your friend has no objection to his girlfriend’s being in business with his mother, Miss Manners sees no reason to protest. Whether his mother will is another question.