Dear Prudence: Guests overstay their welcome

Troopers, deputies and firefighters on the scene of an officer-involved crash Thursday morning. (Deuce Niven photo)

Troopers, deputies and firefighters on the scene of an officer-involved crash Thursday morning. (Deuce Niven photo)

Dear Prudence: The other evening, my partner and I had a couple over for a BBQ after work. They are friends of friends and new to the city. They arrived appropriately at 7:30 p.m. However, it got to be after midnight and they were still here!

Our days start early (5 a.m.), so by 11 p.m., I could hardly keep my eyes open. We casually started cleaning up, putting things away, but there was no indication that our guests were leaving anytime soon.

Frankly, my partner and I just sort of stopped participating in the conversation. By 12:30 a.m., our guests claimed they should “get out of our hair” and head home. Were they waiting for breakfast?

What would have been the polite way to ask dinner guests to leave? Five hours seems like a long time for a casual BBQ, even if my partner and I are charming hosts. (Joke.) — Ready for Bed

Dear Read: You know what they say: No sense, no feeling. When in a pickle like the one you describe, it is perfectly acceptable to announce you are early risers and the evening is, regrettably, over.

It is one of Prudie’s tenets that clods not be permitted to hold people hostage in any type of situation. If people don’t know when to go home, they need to be told.

— Prudie, proactively

***
Dear Prudence is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers’ daughter. All letters must be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. Due to a high volume of e-mail, not all letters will be answered.