DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Arnold,” and I have lived together two years. During the four years that we’ve known each other, we have had only five or six really bad, screaming, door-slamming, crying fights about relatively important subjects like children and money.

Arnold told me yesterday morning that he would be playing soccer with friends after work, and to expect him home a little later than usual. Well, when he wasn’t home by 10:30 p.m., I panicked because he’s usually home from games by 7. His cell phone was turned off, so I called a co-worker to try to locate him. Ten minutes later Arnold walked in the door. When he heard I had called a co-worker trying to locate him, he got very angry. He raised his voice, called me “psycho,” and said I had no right to know where he was every minute.

Abby, we live in a bad neighborhood where innocent people getting shot, run over and killed isn’t unusual. I am very upset because I have no idea why he got so angry. We have since made up, but I’m still hurting and feel his reaction was undeserved. Did I overreact? Is this a bad sign for our future? – LOVES ARNOLD IN OAKLAND

DEAR LOVES ARNOLD: Your boyfriend may have been embarrassed because his co-worker was called, or he may have been angry because he was somewhere other than a soccer game. I don’t know him, so I can’t read his motivation.

However, now that you both have cooled down, it’s time to explain to Arnold again how worried you were when he didn’t show up or call, and ask him why he reacted the way he did. Suggest that, in the future, he give you a call when he’s going to be more than an hour late.

DEAR ABBY: I’m 13 and just finished the seventh grade. I recently got my belly button pierced, and everything was fine until about a week ago. This sounds weird, but a red bump showed up at the top of my piercing, and it seems to keep swelling. I’ve had my belly button pierced for only a month, so I’m sure I started changing my jewelry too soon. I’m worried this bump will stay on my navel forever.

Do you have any idea what it is, and how I can get rid of it? I love my piercing and don’t want to take it out. Any information would help. – PIERCED IN MONTANA

DEAR PIERCED: You may have an infection at the site of your piercing, or be allergic to the metal in some of your navel jewelry. My advice is to ask your mother to schedule a doctor’s appointment for you so the problem can be diagnosed and treated. The doctor can determine whether or not you will have to “take it out.” Keep your fingers crossed and hold a good thought.

DEAR ABBY: You have asked readers to share their pet peeves with you. Well, here’s mine. Please help me get the message out. When an elevator door opens, please allow the passengers who are getting off to get out of the elevator before you get on! I don’t understand why people must push their way into an elevator while folks are trying to get off. – ELIZABETH IN MEDFORD, ORE.

DEAR ELIZABETH: Neither do I, unless they are so determined to be first on the elevator that they have forgotten their manners. It’s only common sense that the elevator be allowed to empty before passengers begin to enter – otherwise they’re jostling each other at the door.

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.