DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Cliff,” is in prison and we’re not sure when he’ll be out. We have two wonderful children, ages 11 and 13. We are allowed to visit him six times a month and can talk with him on the phone up to four times a week. Despite his incarceration, he is as involved as he can be in our lives.

I have a problem when meeting new people who ask where my husband is. The stigma of having a husband in jail is not something I want to carry in the small town where we live. Plus, I don’t think it is something our children’s friends should know because they might taunt them.

As happens more times than we’d like to think in this country, my husband was wrongfully convicted, and the explanation is a lengthy one. So, short of telling each person the whole story, what reply can I come up with when asked the whereabouts of my husband? – NEEDS AN ANSWER IN OHIO

DEAR NEEDS AN ANSWER: You could tell your neighbors that you and your husband are having a “trial” separation – but please be aware that the cat will be out of the bag the minute one of your children confides their father’s whereabouts to a close friend. In a small town, there are very few secrets.

DEAR ABBY: I am 12 and have lived in Texas all my life, until a few months ago when we moved to Las Cruces, N.M. My younger sister, “Janey,” and I didn’t want to move, but Mother met “Patrick” online and fell in love. We moved to Las Cruces so they could be together and get married someday.

I like Patrick because he’s nice to us, but Janey and I don’t get along with his daughter, “Rita.” She is 15, and says we have stolen her time with her dad. She is jealous because he pays attention to us, and she can’t have him all to herself.

Please tell me how I can let her know we’re not stealing her father and that he still loves her. – STRESSED IN LAS CRUCES

DEAR STRESSED: As much as you might wish to put Rita’s fears to rest, the person who must reassure her is her father. Tell Patrick privately what you have told me. Or better yet, clip this letter and tell him you wrote it. If he’s unable to allay his daughter’s concerns, some sessions with a family counselor would be a wise investment.

DEAR ABBY: My daughter is 12 and starting to want to wear makeup. She is quite a tomboy and would rather play basketball than do “girly” things.

She wore makeup to the movies last weekend, and her father was very upset. He ordered her not to do it again. She tells me kids are making comments about her because she doesn’t dress like a girl or wear makeup. Abby, I don’t see anything wrong with her wearing it once in a while.

What’s your take on this? Is her dad right, or am I being too easy? Is there a compromise? – MOM IN NEW YORK

DEAR MOM: Get a cold compress for your husband, because I have news for him. His little girl is growing up, and right on schedule. Now, I don’t know how much makeup your daughter wore to the movies, but for someone her age to wear lip gloss and a little mascara is not unusual. Moderation is the key.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more attractive person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $5 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

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