DEAR ABBY: There is a boy I like at school. He is a very well-known person around school. I'm not. I do have a wide variety of friends, and I even talk to some of his.

My friends know I like him, and they would like for me to talk to him. I wouldn't mind that, but what would I say? They want it to happen in person, but I want to do it by text, where I feel more me. What should I do? -- TENNESSEE TEEN

DEAR TEEN: Listen to your friends and approach him in person. A smile and a hello should break the ice. Then follow it up with a question about some activity that's happening at school.

DEAR ABBY: Could you please address the etiquette of tasting samples at stores, events, food shows, etc.? People walk up and try to grab a sample with dirty, bleeding, scabby hands not realizing that other people will also be sampling that food.

Samples are supposed to be given to each person. And when that happens, the food handler should be wearing clean gloves and be the only person touching the food.

Please let people know that once someone without gloves touches this food, the demonstrator must discard it for health reasons. Also, samples cannot be given to children without their parents' permission, and any food allergies must be addressed before someone asks for a sample. -- MARY IN FLORIDA

DEAR MARY: Your suggestions are not only good manners, they also make common sense. I hope that readers who don't know better will learn from your letter for the sake of everyone's health.

DEAR ABBY: "Enough to Share" (Dec. 5) was interested in supporting her daughter's friends through the college application process. "Enough" could mention to the family that SAT and ACT fee waivers should be available through the school counseling department if the twins are considered low-income.

Students should also know about government assistance programs, such as the Pell Grant, which can give additional money toward tuition for any low-income student. They can get more information through their schools when they fill out their FAFSA forms. -- TITLE I TEACHER

DEAR TEACHER: Thank you for the pertinent information. Read on for some instructive input from another reader:

DEAR ABBY: Many schools have "Helping Hands" funds available for this purpose and would allow the family to donate to these specific girls anonymously, if need be. As an educator, I encourage everyone to reach out to a local school to offer help to struggling high school students. If they are in a position to do so, they should ask if they can sponsor a student in the college application process or sign up to mentor. -- A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

DEAR ABBY: I'm a young man in my mid-20s, and I have a deeper voice than my stature would typically suggest. Close friends even get thrown off when I talk to them if they haven't seen me in a while. I'm fairly happy with it, and people often ask if I do radio or voice acting. I run into problems, though, when strangers comment on it.

If someone says, "Wow, has anyone ever told you that you have a great voice?" or something of that nature, my first impulse is to make a joke about it. If I'm not quick enough on my feet, however, I often catch myself saying something like, "Yeah, I get that a lot," or, "I know," both of which sound egotistical, and I feel embarrassed afterward. Is there a way to acknowledge the compliment that doesn't come off so pretentious? -- NOT QUICK ON MY FEET

DEAR NOT QUICK: Yes, accept the compliment graciously by saying, "Thank you."

DEAR ABBY: My husband has been sick and unable to work for several years due to a debilitating illness. He has been home taking care of the kids while I have been working full time. We have lost everything because of the financial burden of his illness. I am very grateful to my parents for helping us financially during this tough time.

Unfortunately, I believe some of my family think my husband is faking his illness. This is hurtful since they have known him for a long time (we've been married 12 years). My sister recently asked him in a rather nasty way why he doesn't just go get a job, and I'm beginning to think that my parents share her sentiment.

He already feels guilty and worthless for not being able to provide for our family. It's coming to the point where I just want to get away from them and cut off contact. Should I address the issue or just let it go? -- SICK IN THE SOUTH

DEAR SICK: By all means address the issue. What your sister did was both cruel and out of line. Ask your parents if those are their sentiments as well, because you are concerned they might be.

If they are having doubts about your husband's physical problems, offer to share medical information that proves his health problems are all too real. Because your parents have been helping out financially, it might help to clear the air.

DEAR ABBY: My son just got some devastating news. He found out that the son he has raised for 20 years isn't his. We will always love the young man regardless. The thing is, how do we help our son to overcome losing a child we all thought was his? -- HEARTBROKEN IN TEXAS

DEAR HEARTBROKEN: Regardless of who contributed the sperm that fertilized the egg that became your grandson, the person your son raised is his son. The bond is there. Your son is the only father he has ever known. If you move forward from there and don't deviate from that path, you should all be able to deal with this in a positive manner.

DEAR ABBY: I've been married to my second husband for 14 years. He's a great provider, but mentally and emotionally abusive.

I want to leave him, but I'm scared to live on my own. We both work, but he makes a lot of money -- which I do not -- so I guess you can say, financially I'm comfortable. But I'm miserable. I'm so unhappy I have tried to take my life.

He wanted us to be swingers and I finally gave in, and now it's all I hear about. I don't want to do it, but he doesn't care what I want. His kids are mean and disrespectful. We have no kids together (which I want but can't have, and he won't adopt).

I feel like I'm wasting my life. I'm 43. I had to have emergency surgery and almost didn't make it, and he resented me for it. Why can't I leave him? Why am I so scared? I have no other family. -- WASTING AWAY IN THE SOUTH

DEAR WASTING AWAY: You said it yourself: You are scared to live on your own. Some people are afraid of the unknown, and you appear to be one of them. Because your husband has been coercing you into having sex with other men, I recommend you contact a support organization such as RAINN (www.rainn.org); its toll-free phone number is 800-656-HOPE (4673). Someone there can guide you in making an escape plan.

I also urge you to talk about this with an attorney, because you should not be penniless if you leave. What your husband has been doing is a form of spousal abuse, and between you and me, it shouldn't take more than five seconds of self-evaluation to conclude that you would be better off without him.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I recently had a baby girl, our first. We both work full-time, but my husband is gone nights and weekends and I'm the primary parent at home with our daughter.

Something has been bothering me since my daughter came along. My in-laws have never once told me I'm doing a good job as a mother. I'm critiqued every time they come over, whether it be that her hands are too cold, her room is too warm or her nails are too "sharp."

They compliment my husband repeatedly, and he's the first to give all the credit to me, but I feel like they don't think I'm doing a good job and it makes me feel bad. Am I being too sensitive? -- CRITICIZED ALL THE TIME

DEAR CRITICIZED: It is possible that in making these comments, your in-laws are simply trying to be helpful. Instead of regarding them as criticism, take them under consideration.

However, if your hurt feelings persist, you -- or your husband -- should point out to his parents that in trying to be helpful, they have forgotten to be supportive, and mention some of the things you are doing right.

DEAR READERS: Today, I'm proud to announce the launch of an exciting new scholarship program for aspiring young writers. The Dear Abby College Columnist Scholarship Program and Contest, administered by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists Education Foundation, will recognize and encourage the work of undergraduates writing bylined columns for their college newspapers. For more information about the contest, visit dearabby.com/scholarship/interview, or submit an entry at dearabby.com/scholarship. -- ABBY