DEAR ABBY: The other day I was with a friend who is a bit overweight. We were trying on clothes in one of the stores. She grabbed a shirt she was sure she could fit into, but when she tried it on, it ripped. She had to pay for it.
On the ride home my friend asked me, "Am I fat?" I was at a loss, so I told her no. What should I have done? I feel horrible for lying, but I didn't know what else to do. -- LOST FOR WORDS
DEAR LOST FOR WORDS: You could have replied, "What size was the shirt?" And when she answered, you should have said, "I guess you're a size or two larger." It would have been more tactful than saying she was fat, and gotten the point across.