Today’s Column: July 28, 2020
Tough Talk,
My brother’s wife’s sister’s best friend is a beautiful young woman whom I have known most of my life having gone to school with her. She was in the grade below me, but we always got a long. When I was young, my friends called me Bootsie, because I favored long purple boots. And I also had a crush on Bootsie Collins. It was cute when we were young, but no one calls me that any more . . . except for her, “Hi Bootsie,” she’ll say with a snotty little smirk as she knows I don’t like it and am embarrassed by my earlier taste in fashion. I pretend it’s ok, but it’s not. How do I get her to stop calling me that TT? (Chattanooga, TN)
Chattanooga,
I’d be right up front and tell her I don’t want to hear that word any more. If she gets rude and continues, you must slap her face and do it in front of your friends and family to ensure no one makes up a false story and exaggerates what you did. This may sound harsh, but you are just being honest with your emotions. You may also tell your brother to tell this wife’s sister’s best friend to keep her damn mouth shut. Another idea is to come up with your own nickname for her, “SNB or AE”. You get the idea. Of course it must be embarrassing and not cute. But whatever you do, take action. You can’t allow this to go on anymore. Word up . . .
Tough Talk 