DEAR ABBY: I am 19 and pregnant with my first child. The father, whom I married, turned out to be far different from the person I thought he was when I met him. I left him when I was around four months along because he was starving me and wouldn’t let me leave the house.

Since then, he has been arrested for possession of child pornography, and I have discovered that he is a satanist. I am terrified of him. I know I’m lucky to be alive and not to have lost the baby, which I almost did.

I am filing for divorce, but I have no idea how to keep this monster away from my baby. He has threatened to kill me and take the baby if I don’t go back to him. He follows me around and sits outside my home late at night. I have applied for a lawyer, but I have no job and no money.

Are there any organizations that can help someone in my position? How do I get my husband to quit threatening me and leave me alone? – SCARED IN TEXAS

DEAR SCARED: The first thing you should do is file a police report stating, for the record, that you are being stalked and threatened. Since your husband has already been arrested for child pornography, it could be only a matter of time until he is convicted and sent away. In the meantime, call the Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233. If necessary, the people there can help you find shelter to keep you and your baby safe.

DEAR ABBY: An outside vendor came to the place where I worked and made lewd comments to me.

When I learned that he would be the person training me on the new software I’d be using for the promotion I had just received – my second promotion in two years – I reported the incident to my immediate supervisor. Within four working days, I was demoted, publicly humiliated, and felt forced to turn in my resignation.

I had signed a sexual harassment agreement with my bosses that I would report any incident to them. Should I have kept my mouth shut? Do I have any recourse? – HUMILIATED IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

DEAR HUMILIATED: The vendor’s actions were out of line, and you were right to report him. If I were you, I’d discuss what happened with an attorney who specializes in labor law – preferably a female.

DEAR ABBY: I am 13 and live in a small town. I need to know something: Is boredom normal? I got up one morning and realized how bored I am. I don’t mean bored with nothing to do. I am bored with myself and my daily routine.

I’m not especially sad, just bored with life itself – the people I see every day, the town I live in, the way I look, my boyfriend, my room, going to school – “same old, same old.”

I want this feeling to go away. What can I do? – RESTLESS TEEN IN MARYLAND

DEAR RESTLESS: Talk to your parents about involving yourself in a new activity, preferably one where you will meet new people. Visit the library and ask the librarian to suggest some books to expand your range of interests.

Everyone feels the way you do at one time or another. The solution is to dwell less on yourself and more on the needs of other people.

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 everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $5 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Copy the Story Link