Friend needs to make effort to protect friend

Dear Annie: I am a high school student and have a friend, “Alice,” who is only 14 years old. We are very close. We even call each other brother and sister. Alice has been in some sketchy relationships in the past, but her most recent one has really got me worried. She confided that she is going out with a 20-year-old man, “Steve.”

Alice says she met Steve at a party and she thought he was younger. (Like that makes it OK.) Steve also has a daughter, which means that he has knocked up somebody before.

I asked two of my female friends for advice, and one said I need to take action or something bad will happen. I know I should, but if I say anything to Alice, I’m afraid she might think I am interfering and it will hurt our close relationship. My other friend said I should not get involved because Alice won’t listen to me. She also said Alice’s problem is not my fault and Alice knows it’s wrong to date Steve.

Because I am the only person Alice has told about this, I feel somewhat obligated to do something. Please help. — Concerned Friend

Dear Friend: Sometimes friends must make difficult choices. You need to protect Alice, and this means telling someone about Steve. Please confide in your parents and ask them to discuss the situation with Alice’s folks. If you don’t speak up, you will never forgive yourself if something terrible happens. Alice may become angry with you, but she also will know you care enough about her to take that risk. In fact, we think that’s what she is hoping for. Good luck.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to [email protected], or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.