DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend and I have been sexually active for over a year. We were very careful and took precautions to insure that pregnancy didn't occur. Three months ago we had sex and my boyfriend didn't use a condom. He was driving his friend's van and the condoms were in his own van. This one huge mistake caused me to become pregnant.

I haven't told anyone except my boyfriend because I didn't know what to do. My boyfriend encouraged me to consider having an abortion, but that is out of the question because it's against my religion. It's going to be traumatic, but I plan on telling my parents this weekend. Of course, they will be disappointed, but I know they love me and will support me through this very difficult time in my life.

My boyfriend has not told his parents about my pregnancy. Once my parents are aware of the situation, what should I do about telling his parents that they will soon be grandparents? He has told me that he is not going to tell his parents about our pregnancy. He still is thinking that I'll get an abortion. — Nameless, South Bend, Ind.

NAMELESS: Once you inform your parents the "secret" is out. Sooner or later his parents will hear about the good news. Since your boyfriend won't share the exciting news with his parents, it's up to you to enlighten them. You may want to have your mother with you when you talk with his parents face-to-face.

YOU ARE NOT INNOCENT

DR. WALLACE: I was suspended from school for two days because a teacher saw a carton of cigarettes when I was looking for a book in my locker. I don't smoke and I never have smoked even one cigarette. The cigarettes belonged to a friend of mine who has been suspended from school twice because of getting caught smoking on campus. He was afraid that the vice principal might open his locker and find the cigarettes and that would have meant a long suspension.

The teacher who saw the cigarettes isn't liked by any of our students. She is an old maid and has nothing better to do than to get innocent kids in trouble. Not only am I suspended from school, I'm grounded at home for a month. Now I know how people in prison feel when they are behind bars even though they are innocent. — Nameless, Garden Grove, Calif.

NAMELESS: You are not innocent. You were aware that it was against school rules to have cigarettes on campus whether they belonged to you or to someone else. Once you agreed to hold the cigarettes in your locker for someone else, you broke the school rule.

The teacher that you are belittling was only doing her job and it's none of your concern whether or not she is married!

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@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.