DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend who routinely brings tasty treats to work for me. Although I appreciate her generosity, these treats are routinely accompanied with an insult.
For example, today she gave me a piece of a loaf with icing on top but promptly advised me to scrape off the icing. It's little nuggets of advice like this that lead me to think she thinks I am overweight. (I most certainly am not!)
However, I can't reject her food because she often leaves it on my desk. How do I get her to stop insulting my healthy (but never gluttonous) appetite?
GENTLE READER: It is unfortunate that the icing on your friend's cake is an insult. But since the two are in direct contact, Miss Manners wonders, why, exactly, can you not politely reject the whole package?
Hand back the treat and say: "You are so right. It's so kind of you to offer, but I really can't." If this makes your friend rethink her method of delivery, you will be in the happy position of having your cake and eating it too.