Possessive friend needs reassurance

Dear Annie: We are close friends with "Allen and Michelle," who live just down the street from us. We share a lot of personal information with each other and enjoy hanging out.

The problems began after Michelle introduced us to "Sandra and Joe." Sandra made several comments about getting together with us, so finally, I called to invite them out for dinner and drinks. When Michelle found out we had been out together, without her and Allen, she was very upset. Yet that same night, she and her husband had a prior engagement and couldn't have come anyway.

We are struggling with Michelle's possessive attitude and fear it will break up all of the friendships. We are not in grade school anymore. How can we resolve this and act like adults? — New Friends

Dear Friends: You may not be in grade school, but the reaction is the same. Michelle is jealous that you and Sandra are friends without her involvement, and when you plan evenings that don't include her, she feels as if she were tossed from the popular girls' clique. A more mature person would, of course, hold those feelings in check. You need to reassure Michelle that you like her as much as Sandra, and you do this by spending time with her, with and without others. You also should tell Michelle directly that you value her friendship and you hope next time you get together with Sandra, she will be available to join you.

Dear Annie: I would like to know the correct etiquette regarding call waiting on the telephone.

I have a good friend who, when she gets a call waiting beep, promptly hangs up with me and takes the new call instead of telling that person she will call them back. What do you think? — Florida Fan

Dear Florida: Etiquette says the person you are already on the phone with takes precedence over any incoming calls, unless they are of an urgent nature. Your friend should tell the person who intrudes that she will call them back. However, there's always the remote possibility that your conversations last a little longer than your friend prefers and she is looking for a reason to get off the phone.

Dear Annie: I've been married to "Ed" for six years. We are not young. Ed is an only child and, according to his parents, can do no wrong.

We live a few blocks from his mom and dad, and I am not allowed in their home, nor am I ever invited to go out to lunch or dinner with the three of them. My mother-in-law says, "We don't want to share him, so you can't come."

Some mornings, Ed gets up and says, "I'm going to play golf with Dad," and away he goes. He always picks up Mom, too. I'm not allowed to come along.