DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and need some spending money. My mom said that if I do extra work around the house (not including my regularly assigned chores), she would pay me $10 a week.

For the past four weeks. I've worked really hard for my money. I pruned the flower garden, washed the car twice, cleaned the garage and even washed and dried the dinner dishes. I also have done lots of other little stuff.

I was supposed to get paid every Saturday. I have $40 coming but, so far, mom has only paid me $3. I really need the money. She keeps saying, "I'll catch you later," but it seems like later is never going to arrive because I have not received any more payment. What do you think I should do? — Todd, Tyler, Tex.

TODD: Mom owes $37 and she should pay you. You have fulfilled your part of the agreement; she should honor her part. Show mom my answer. It just might inspire her to keep her word.

DON'T SEND A "DEAR JOHN" LETTER

DR. WALLACE: I am 16 and the youngest of five children. The rest of my siblings have all left home and are out on their own. My parents are usually very strict so I was very surprised when they allowed me to go out with Kevin. They met him and liked him. Kevin and I had a wonderful time together until his parents moved 200 miles away. Kevin didn't want us to break up so we decided to retain our relationship.

Last week a real nice, very cute boy at my church asked me to go out with him. I told him I would really like to go out with him but that I was going steady with another boy who has moved far away and we had decided to retain our relationship via e-mail and cellphone.

I really like Kevin and would still be dating him if he were still in town. But now I would like to date some boys where I live. Do you think it would be proper to send Kevin a "Dear John" letter? — Nameless, Tulsa, Okla.

NAMELESS: If I remember correctly, I received several while in the military. A "Dear John" letter is like a final "Goodbye, it's been good to know you," sort of thing. Don't send one to Kevin. Tell him it would be best if you both dated others since you won't be seeing one another regularly. Make him aware that you still care for him and would enjoy corresponding with him regularly. Tell him that you are looking forward to dating others and encourage him to do the same.

250,000 FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES

DR. WALLACE: I'm a first-year student at the University of California at Irvine and surprised at the great number of students here who are from a foreign country. I'm not saying this is bad; I'm just wondering why. I just hope they are not denying American students the privilege of attending college or university. — Pam, Irvine, Calif.

PAM: There are about 250,000 foreign students studying in the United States, according to the U.S. State Department. Their presence is a boon to everyone's education and in no way deprives American students of a chance to attend college.

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.