DEAR ABBY: I'm having a problem with my boyfriend's friend "Chuck." Chuck constantly does things like open a door on me (which has left bruises), run into me "by accident" (which caused me to trip) or "accidentally" push me into the water. My boyfriend already knows I have strong reservations about his friend's character, and it upsets him because Chuck is a childhood friend.
I don't like to bring it up as often as these incidents occur, but I'm worried that one day I'll finally lose my temper and be accused of making a big deal out of nothing when it's obviously something. How can I make Chuck stop before something happens? -- UNCOMFORTABLE IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR UNCOMFORTABLE: Has it occurred to you that Chuck may be jealous of the time you and his friend spend together, and may be punishing you because he feels you have taken his friend away from him? I suggest this because that's the way he has been acting -- literally trying to "push" you out of the picture. I see nothing wrong with telling your boyfriend about everything Chuck has "accidentally" done to you, and then letting him deal with his friend's insecurities.