Help cousin adjust to new town

Dear Annie: I am 10 years old. My cousin, "Zoe," just moved to our town and is going to my school. We're in the same classes, in the same youth group and in the same after-school activities, and we are going to the same summer camp next year.

Zoe is really nice, but we live in a small town, and it can take a while to meet new people. So, she hangs out with my friends and me a lot, and even though I have no problem with that, some of my friends are hinting that they'd like her to leave us alone once in a while.

I love my cousin, but I could use a little breathing room. What should I do? —Cousin Problems

Dear Cousin: Can you introduce Zoe to some schoolmates with whom she might have something in common? Perhaps she would like to join a sport or after-school group that doesn't include you. Zoe is still new to your area and needs time to find her own friends and her own interests. She is relying on you to make the transition easier, so try to be patient with her. You won't regret it.

Dear Annie: I've heard people complain about the overblown Christmas newsletters they receive. You know what I'm talking about — the husband got his third promotion, the son was offered a full scholarship to Harvard, the daughter was voted homecoming queen, the 9-year-old plays three musical instruments, the oldest daughter married an ambassador, the first grandchild is a genius who already speaks three languages, and Grandma is embarrassed because she is so often mistaken for her daughter's older sister. So here's my Christmas Letter Revenge. I hope you will print it. —Had Enough of That

Dear Had Enough: Thanks for a good chuckle. Here it is:

Dear Everybody: Once again, the happy holidays are upon us. We have so many things to appreciate. Bob got a promotion to french fry specialist at the fast-food joint, so we were able to purchase two more buckets at the flea market. We now have enough for all the holes in the leaking roof. We've actually collected so much water that we can flush the toilets every day.

The Feds found this year's marijuana crop before we could harvest it all, but we should make it through the winter with the profits from the still. Jimmy got out on good behavior just in time for Christmas and the birth of his fifth child. Fortunately, all four mothers have stopped fighting over him. Junior ran off again, and it gets harder and harder to get the sheriff to look for him. Just because he's 35 doesn't mean he can take care of himself.

I hope that the holidays find you whole and happy. I don't understand why the family reunion announcements again didn't reach us until after the event. —Bertha Mae, Bob, Jimmy, Junior and all the Grandkids