DR. WALLACE: Matt and I have been going steady for about seven months. He's a very nice guy, and I like him a lot. When we're together, we have a lot of fun. My problem is that quite often we'll make a date, but he'll call at the last minute and cancel because his buddies want him to do things with them.

The first couple of times this happened, I didn't say too much, so now he takes advantage of me. Yesterday we were going to see a movie and he called 10 minutes after he was supposed to pick me up and told me — you guessed it — he was doing something with his friends. This time I exploded and told him that I was very unhappy about this. All he said was, "Sorry, I've got to go. Talk to you later?"

How should I handle the situation? I'm really a soft-spoken, gentle person. — Nameless, Peoria, Ill.

NAMELESS: Your boyfriend is totally inconsiderate and is taking advantage of your gentle nature. This shouldn't happen again. If it does, dump him!

HAVING A PEN PAL IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

DR. WALLACE: I'm so glad you encourage your teen readers to have pen pals. Please allow me to share my pen pal experience with them:

My pen pal and I started corresponding when we were both 15-year-olds, and that was over 50 years ago! Although we have still never met face-to-face, we have grown up together. We have shared all of our good times, including high school graduation, marriage and the birth of our children — and our grandchildren. We have also helped each other through a few not-so-good times. We have exchanged countless photos and many meaningful gifts, and I still consider her to be my very best friend! What more can I say?

Teens, if you ever have the opportunity to become a pen pal, do so! My pal has provided my life with an abundance of enrichment, joy and love. — Still writing those letters, Elkhart, Ind.

STILL WRITING THOSE LETTERS: Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful pen pal experience with our teen readers. I agree with you 100 percent. The friendships that bloom from the written word can enrich lives forever!

I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE "CLEAN YOUR PLATE CLUB"

DR. WALLACE: I'm not overweight, but I'm also not underweight, either. My problem is that my mother insists that I eat everything she puts on my plate. I try to eat nourishing foods and stay away from fatty and salty foods, but many times that's what I'm required to eat. Let me give you an example. Last night for dinner, my mother put on my plate a large fried pork chop, a large helping of mashed potatoes with milk and butter added and gravy, plus a helping of creamed corn. It took me almost half an hour to finish and I left the table so full that I could hardly walk away. I guess I'm lucky she doesn't insist that I also eat dessert!

I'm 13, and I don't think that it is healthy to always clean your plate, especially when you feel full. Do you agree? — Mindy, Jackson, Miss.

MINDY: I agree. I am not a member of the "clean your plate club." Food should be tasty and nutritious, and should never be wasted. One should take a small portion of each item and be allowed to have a small extra portion if desired, but you should never be required to leave the table stuffed!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.