DEAR ABBY: I am responding to the column in which you asked your readers to define "elderly." I am 13 years old, and to me, elderly means someone who is kind, patient, not in a hurry, and someone who will really listen. When you hear the word "elderly" in the news, I think it gives the story a little more meaning than it would if they didn't use that term. I've met quite a few people who are past middle age, and most of them are very charming and quite good listeners. -- KARL STRUBE JR., GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.
DEAR KARL: You sound like a young man who should be cloned. I'll bet that people of all ages really listen when you speak.