DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and really starting to get this thing for my older sister's boyfriend. Both of them are 17. My sister and her boyfriend have been dating for about three months and he has been spending a lot of time at our house. Sometimes when my sister is on the telephone to one of her girlfriends (sometimes for almost an hour) Nick and I chat about many things, like school, sports, music and even religion and the world problems. He is not only cute, but he is really intelligent and I enjoy our discussions.

Yesterday at school I saw him in the hall between classes and he smiled and said, "Hi, good looking!" This caught me by surprise, and I just said "Hi" and went on to my class. Now, I'm wondering if my sister takes him for granted and that maybe he's starting to show interest in me. She's a year older than I am and maybe just slightly better looking.

Do you think that he might be thinking of asking me out? And, if he does, should I accept the invitation? I'm thinking that if my sister is talking with friends and not paying any attention to Nick, then why can't I have him if she isn't that interested? What do you think? — Nameless, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

NAMELESS: In the late 1950s, the McGuire Sisters, a popular singing group back then, had a No.1 hit record called, "Sisters." Part of the lyrics went this way..."Lord, help the mister who comes between me and my sister, and Lord, help the sister who comes between me and my man."

'Nuff said!

MOM OPENS LETTERS FROM MY PEN PAL

DR. WALLACE: A good friend's cousin lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, and he wanted a pen pal living in California. My friend asked if I would enjoy being his pen pal and I said yes. I thought corresponding with a guy my age (we are both 16) would be exciting, and it is. Greg and I have been writing for nearly six months. We have exchanged photographs and small Christmas gifts. I look forward to his letters and hearing about his family, school, and the city of Halifax where he lives. We also have shared about what we both do when we are with our friends. There is no romance involved and his girlfriend is aware of our pen pal letters. This pen pal experience has been fun and shouldn't cause any problem, but it has, and the problem is my mother.

For the past month she has been opening and reading my letters from Greg. When I came home from school yesterday she announced, "You got a letter from that guy in Canada and he said that he would like to see you in person and would like to invite you to Canada and that you could stay at his girl cousin's house."

This really startled me and I told her she had no right to open and read my personal mail and that I wanted her to stop immediately or I'd have him write to me at my friend's house. Then my mother blew her cool and we had a big fight with both of us yelling at each other.

My mom insisted that she has the right to open and read my mail whenever she wants. I think she should not open my personal letters, although I'll let her read them after I've read them first. My mom and I have kissed and made up, but we still disagree. We'd like to hear what you think about this. — Nameless, Chico, Calif.

NAMELESS: I'm on your side. I know many parents will disagree with me, but I think teens deserve some privacy, and to be trusted. Only when the trust is violated should parents snoop! Parents should possess the ability to "know what's happening" with their teens without having graduated from the F.B.I. Academy. It's called "communication."

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. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. 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.

Photo credit: Bernard Pollack