DR. WALLACE: Rachel and I were best friends for the last couple of years, but it all ended when she started saying bad things about my mom. She was telling my other friends things that were untrue. Not only that, but she is also spreading disgusting lies around school about my moral character. This has really hurt me, but I don't know how to get her to stop. Please tell me what I should do. I really hate going to school now. — Sad Girl, Houston, Texas

SAD GIRL: It's worth a try to simply have a chat with her and ask her to stop spreading lies about you and your mom. And remind her that the two of you have been friends for a long time and that she knows what she's saying isn't true. She just might stop. But even if she doesn't, it's very important that you not be defensive and run around trying to convince everyone that Rachel is telling lies about you. I realize that it will be difficult, but the less you react, the sooner Rachel will shut her big mouth.

Teens, as a group, are honest and fair. They can form a realistic opinion about a person's moral character. Rachel is not going to change a lot of people's minds about you. Keep smiling and continue to maintain your character and dignity. Rachel's tongue will soon get tired and the game she's playing is more likely to boomerang and reflect badly on her own character.

UNWISE FOR PARENT TO BREAK A PROMISE

DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and I have a driver's license. My dad promised me that if I made the honor roll, he'd allow me to use the family car on dates once a week. So I worked really hard and I made the honor roll last semester, but when I asked to use the car, he told me he had changed his mind and I couldn't use the car because his insurance would increase.

I admit that I was so disappointed that we had a heated discussion. It ended with him saying, "I'm the boss and I make the decisions. And if you ask me again, I'll never let you use the car." I feel really cheated and I'm not happy that my father broke his promise to me. Do you agree that he was wrong to break his promise to me? — Upset, Boston, Mass.

UPSET: It is true that parents have the final word and make the decisions, but it is very unwise for a parent to make a promise, and then refuse to honor it!

GUYS WILL SAY ANYTHING TO WIN BACK A LOST LOVE

DR. WALLACE: I was going steady with this guy for nearly six months. He was always telling me he loved me and someday he would make me his wife. The idea made me back off and tell him that he was getting too serious and I was not ready for that kind of relationship. When I broke up with him I also told him that I would not be changing my mind.

Now this guy has been sending me flowers and calling me every day to see if I've changed my mind, but I definitely have not changed my mind. Last night he called again and said that if I didn't take him back he would turn gay. I told him to start turning and then hung up on him. Then I told my dad to please call his dad and insist that he stop pestering me.

At this point, I really don't care, but I'm curious. ...Is it possible for him to become gay because I dumped him? — Nameless, San Francisco, Calif.

NAMELESS: The answer is NO. Guys will very often use any ploy they can think of to win back a lost love. This guy's plea was merely more imaginative than most.

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@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.