Dog Abby,
My next-door neighbors and I have been very close friends for years. The husband recently left town for an extended business trip. He had been away for about a week when an apparent friend of the wife’s showed up at the door. She left arm-in arm with him. These “dates” have been going on for a few weeks now, and I am concerned that she may be cheating on him. On the other hand, they could be just be old friends socializing with their husband’s full consent. I have never seen this man act in any way that would indicate any wrong doing, but I still feel uneasy about it. Should I contact her husband about this, or should I leave it alone?
Concerned in Concord
Dear nosy neighbor,
Last week, my cat, Phrytzie, got her special breakfast soft food in a kitty dish that mom put on the floor. It smelled sooooo good, but mom saw me creeping up on it and told me, “no.” I was not upset, as I typically get to finish what Phrytzie does not, but mom had told no, so I felt that I had to be sneaky once Phrytzie was done. I carefully walked all the way around the table, behind dad, and under his chair. Just before I got my nose in the dish, Mom caught me, and she did not let me have the leftovers. I guess that is what I get for being sneaky.
Speaking of Phrytzie, she likes to stick her face in places it does not belong. Just yesterday, Mom threw away a cheese wrapper and Phrytzie stuck her face in the garbage can and knocked it over. Mom yelled, “Phrytzie! Get out of things!” (This is what she says to each of us if we are sticking our faces where they do not belong.) Most of the time we are all very good about that, but sometimes the temptation is too strong. That does not mean that we give up trying to be better people…I mean pets…
I told you these two stories because they go together. Number one, if your neighbor were sneaking around with another man, she is even worse at it than I am. It does not sound like she even tried. I would think that if she tried to sneak, she would at least meet this man somewhere she would not be caught.
Second, you are sticking your face in places it does not belong. You did not say that you were hired to spy on your neighbor’s wife, so I am not sure why you feel it is up to you to do so.
Mom says that life is easier and you are happier when you assume best intentions. I feel that you are assuming the worst, and that is why you are Concerned.
With love,
Abby