DEAR ABBY: Upon going into a public women's restroom where the doors of the stalls are closed, what is the polite way to check if someone is in a stall? Should I try to open the door or look under to see if there are feet? -- GOTTA GO IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR GOTTA: The time-honored, foolproof method is to check if there are feet. It's less disruptive than pushing on the door, which might startle an occupant.