DEAR ABBY: I'm 13, and one of my best friends attempted suicide. "Greg" always seemed so happy that this has come as a shock to all of us. We're thankful he is alive, but we don't know how to behave around him.

When Greg returns to school, what should we talk about and how can we (his friends) support him? -- GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE

DEAR GIVEN: Greg is lucky to have such caring friends as you. When you see him, tell him you're glad to see him and were concerned about him. Do not pump him for details. If he wants to talk about what happened, let him do it in his own time.

As to what to talk about with him, talk about the things you always have and include him in all the activities you have in the past. Knowing his friends care about him is very important.

If you have further concerns, discuss them with a guidance counselor at school or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Its phone number is (800) 273-8255 and its website is www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

DEAR ABBY: I have a question regarding grocery store self-scan checkouts. Many grocery stores and supermarkets usually have four machines in one lane, two on each side. If they are all being used, are customers supposed to form one line -- and the customer in front goes whenever a machine opens up? Or does each machine have its own individual line?

I, along with most other people, wait in the middle in one lane. But many times someone will walk right past and stand behind someone checking out!

I never see signs posted and no employees ever say anything. Hopefully, you could clear this up for us. -- FRUSTRATED SHOPPER IN TENNESSEE

DEAR FRUSTRATED: This is a question that should be addressed to the manager of the grocery store where you are shopping. If most of the customers are forming a single line and someone cuts in, the folks in line usually have no hesitation telling the offender, "The line starts here!" But because there is some confusion, and the self-checkout technology is still new, it makes sense that the management of the store would post a sign telling customers what is preferred.

DEAR ABBY: I have a question regarding grocery store self-scan checkouts. Many grocery stores and supermarkets usually have four machines in one lane, two on each side. If they are all being used, are customers supposed to form one line -- and the customer in front goes whenever a machine opens up? Or does each machine have its own individual line?

I, along with most other people, wait in the middle in one lane. But many times someone will walk right past and stand behind someone checking out!

I never see signs posted and no employees ever say anything. Hopefully, you could clear this up for us. -- FRUSTRATED SHOPPER IN TENNESSEE

DEAR FRUSTRATED: This is a question that should be addressed to the manager of the grocery store where you are shopping. If most of the customers are forming a single line and someone cuts in, the folks in line usually have no hesitation telling the offender, "The line starts here!" But because there is some confusion, and the self-checkout technology is still new, it makes sense that the management of the store would post a sign telling customers what is preferred.

DEAR ABBY: You assured "Overwhelmed in Ohio" (Dec. 18) that fellow student "Dan" will "move on and start building a life" after high school is over. On what base might he build? Because "Overwhelmed" says Dan is an "outcast" whom everyone treats as invisible, and he has attached himself to the one person who has befriended him, it appears he has completely missed the normal teen social-learning process. How, then, is he supposed to have acquired the social skills necessary for building connections later in life?

There's a difference between being unpopular and being ostracized. An unpopular kid can participate in social situations with similar kids. A kid who is shunned cannot. Unfortunately, Dan may be on a path toward lifelong social illiteracy and isolation.

What needs to happen before "Overwhelmed" pulls away is for the adults in charge of this school to figure out why Dan has been ostracized, and develop an effective remedy for the situation -- one that gets Dan into normal relationships with other people. And there should also be lessons about empathy provided to the students who are shunning him. -- KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE

DEAR KNOWS: Thank you for your insight. You are by no means the only reader who felt compelled to chime in on this sad situation. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: High school can be a cruel time for many young people, especially those deemed "outcasts" by their peers. I had a friend in high school who truly suffered. I made it my mission to make sure he felt he had a friend and wasn't completely alone. I hung out with him at lunch, at the library on weekends, and tried to include him in activities I was involved in. I defended him to those who called him names, and although I was younger than he, I felt like his protector.

Now, eight years later and living in different states, we are still friends. He told me recently that I was the only reason he didn't attempt suicide in high school. He said I had saved his life by just taking a few moments out of my day to say hello or hang out with him. At the time I didn't realize the lifeline I was extending. -- LUCY IN OAKLAND, CALIF.

DEAR ABBY: My teenage son was similarly "invisible" to most of his classmates and it led to deep depression and anxiety. He is now at a school with other kids who have social learning disorders -- a broad class that includes Asperger's syndrome and a general failure to observe and respond to social cues.

If Dan falls into this category, he needs the help of both the adults and teens in his life. There is also effective therapy available for social learning disorders, and a decent school counselor should be able to help Dan and his parents find it. -- MOM OF A FORMERLY INVISIBLE TEEN

DEAR ABBY: Dan might be autistic, which could explain his behavior. I have an autistic son who is high functioning. His social skills seem immature and he appears "geeky." People have shunned and teased him because of it.

After managing to develop some friendships in band (which, by the way, has some of the best geeky kids who accept others) and a church high school group, his social skills improved. But he needs those kids who overlook his quirkiness and befriend him to help him build confidence. They do exist; you just have to sometimes search for them. If Dan starts feeling more accepted by others, it may lessen his dependence on "Overwhelmed." -- JANN IN TEXAS

DEAR ABBY: My 70-year-old father has asked his 40-year-old girlfriend to marry him. This will be his fourth marriage. They have been dating for a year, and she says she wants to have two or three children with him.

My sisters and I are not happy at all. Our father was a horrible father when we were growing up. To say he doesn't like children is putting it mildly. Also, we feel he would be incredibly selfish and irresponsible to consider bringing a baby into this world at his age when he may not be around long enough to take care of the child.

Do my sisters and I have a right to be upset about this? How would you suggest we handle this? -- DISGUSTED DAUGHTERS IN TEXAS

DEAR DAUGHTERS: Do you have a right to be upset? You absolutely have a right to your feelings and opinions. However, as an adult, your father is entitled to do as he wishes, regardless of how you feel about his choices. "Handle" this as gracefully as possible without shooting your mouths off unless you want to create a permanent rift.

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to my wife almost 40 years. I love her dearly and she says she loves me, but when I want to hold her, she tenses up like I'm a rapist. When I kiss her longer than a nano-second, she makes noises that sound as though I have a pillow over her face. We haven't slept in the same bed in so long I can't remember what it's like. When I try to talk to her about it, she ignores me. How can I get her to realize how much I hurt? -- LONELY AND HURT IN MIDDLE GRANVILLE, N.Y.

DEAR LONELY AND HURT: Your wife's hormones may have changed and sex may be painful for her or no longer appealing. She may be afraid that if she lets you hold her, or kiss her longer than a nano-second, it would imply she is receptive. You need to explain to her how deeply her lack of communication on this subject has hurt you. She should have discussed this with her doctor when the problem started. But if she refuses, then you should both talk to a marriage counselor. If she won't go, go alone.

DEAR ABBY: A couple of years ago we loaned our nephew "Seth" $400 because he was in a tight spot. The amount was something we could afford to lose, but knowing the pitfalls of lending to a relative, we formalized the loan with a written agreement for repayment. We never saw the money again.

We have just received a wedding invitation from Seth. We're not particularly close to him, and because we live across the country we don't plan to attend the wedding.

In lieu of a wedding gift, would it be inappropriate to send a note forgiving some or all of the debt he owes us? Or should we consider the debt and his wedding separately and send him something more traditional? -- UNCLE MIKE IN UTAH

DEAR UNCLE MIKE: Because you are not particularly close to this nephew, are not planning to attend the wedding and it's unlikely that Seth will repay the loan, send him a congratulatory card.