text: Friend's cousin keeps flaking on paying bill - Breeze-Courier - Taylorville, IL
  A week went by, and I asked my friend if she could pay me back or at least get the money from her cousin for me, but she was totally against it and said she didn't want to get involved. We ended up getting in an argument because this is someone she brought around me. I understand that her cousin is at fault, but I feel like she has a responsibility to me as my friend since she introduced me to her family member who screwed me over. Am I wrong for feeling this way? What else can I do? -- Burned Friend
  DEAR BURNED FRIEND: The mistake you made was paying for the cousin's meal with the idea that you would be repaid. If you paid it as a gift, great. But fronting money to someone you don't know is always risky. Yes, you have the right to expect that your friend would vouch for her, but did you ask your friend? You made assumptions. Now, in the best of worlds, your friend should have paid for the person she had tag along to your dinner. Your friend is wrong for bringing her without letting you know and for allowing you to pay for her meal.
  DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in a call center. The woman who sits next to me always stares at my screen. We have plastic dividers for COVID-19, but we can see through them, so I can see her looking my way. When I meet eyes with her, she keeps staring at my screen. I'm not sure what she is looking at or why, because our computers have high security blocks; the only thing we use are the work programs. I tried asking her if she needs help or if everything is all right, and she just smiles, says yes and turns away. But it makes me uncomfortable. I've taken the high road to try to strike up a conversation, hoping she might feel comfortable to share what it is she looks at, but she doesn't speak at all -- she just smiles and nods. Now I'm freaked out. How do I deal with this, and do you have any other pointers for me to figure out what's going on with her? -- Staring Eyes
  DEAR STARING EYES: Ask your supervisor if you can affix an opaque piece of paper to your plexiglass to make it impossible for this woman to continue to stare you down. If that doesn't work, see if you can change your seat.