April 25, 2026 Issue, Page 5 of 12

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 • 5 Mother Calls Her Own Child a ‘Traitor’ DEAR ABBY: My mother and as he doesn’t want me in the middle of anyone. 25 years, married for 15, but we have stepfather, “Pop,” divorced a few DEAR ABBY of a muddle. How do I soothe things always had our own bank accounts years ago. He was the only father fig- with her? I do love her, but I don’t DEAR ABBY: My husband started and paid our own bills. Is this fair? months later and asked about their ure in my life and was good to me, want to write Pop out of my life. -- a side business during the pandem- -- HIRED HELP IN THE WEST visit, I told her that Pop was well and so I want to maintain a relationship TORN IN CONNECTICUT ic making and selling small batch DEAR HIRED HELP: Your hus- Judy was pleasant. She then blew with him. What happened between DEAR TORN: You may not be hot sauces. Five years have passed, band is assuming you are inden- her lid and said that was a betrayal them is a “he said, she said” situa- able to soothe your mother’s feel- and a year and a half ago I told him tured labor. He should give YOU a to her. She’s now calling me a traitor tion. I don’t know where the truth ings, but you may be able to reach an I should be paid for my time when break by paying you as much as he and tells everyone, usually through lies, and I have tried hard not to take a flood of tears, that I love Pop more understanding if you tell her, pref- he needs help manning the booth at pays the 14-year-old he hired. What sides. than her, and that his new wife is a erably in person, that you would be an eight-hour-long street fair. I told he pays (or doesn’t pay) himself for Last year, Pop and his new wife, witch and a homewrecker. happy if she moved closer and you him I didn’t think it was fair to ex- running this enterprise is beside the “Judy,” wanted to visit. I now live a Mom is retired and not in good are willing to help her in her later pect his wife to accept 50% less per point. couple of thousand miles away. He health, and she plans to move clos- years, BUT you intend to maintain hour than the 14-year-old he hired planned to get a hotel, but I asked er to my family in the near future a relationship with Pop and his wife. to give me a break. Dear Abby is written by Abigail them to stay here, which my hus- so she won’t be alone. She has no Explain to her that you are not her Now he’s resentful that I get paid Van Buren, also known as Jeanne band agreed with. I must admit one else. I want to move beyond all possession or his, and no one should to work for his business “when he Phillips, and was founded by her that Pop seems much happier than this, and I’m willing to help her in dictate who you see or don’t see. hasn’t paid himself.” He also expects mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact he was with Mom, and Judy is very her later years. I communicate oc- Say you’re sorry she and Pop didn’t me to “volunteer” my time to help Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com nice. Plus, my kids really liked her. casionally with Pop, and he will not make it to the finish line, but keep- him set up before and break down or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA When Mom came here a few visit again when Mom lives close by ing him in your life is not a betrayal after events. We have been together 90069. CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield