Don’t put up with house cleaner’s trash talk

Dear Miss Manners: I had house cleaners come to quote the cost of services. I asked that they wear masks to protect against the spread of disease.

When they arrived, one of them had a mask on. The other put one on, but without covering his nose. I reminded him by saying, “Sir, it looks like your mask slipped.”

He covered his nose, but then made very rude and demeaning comments, using profane language. I asked them to leave, which they did, with the man still cursing. How should I have handled this?

Gentle Reader: Your would-be house cleaner no doubt saw your request as impinging on his right to — something.

He might, equally unconvincingly, have argued that the constitutional ban against government interference with free speech empowered him to swear at you. Miss Manners would not have you do other than as you did, trusting that the loss of your business will be a harsh, but in this case, fair, teacher.

Dear Miss Manners: My spouse and I have different techniques for adding ketchup to french fries. My spouse pours an amount of ketchup onto an empty area and then dips them. I pour the ketchup directly onto the fries. Does etiquette have a preference?

Gentle reader: Nope, it does not really care. Once fingers enter the food arrangement, etiquette gets less picky. Unless, Miss Manners warns, you are sharing the fries — in which case, she recommends whichever method does not bring you to blows.