DEAR ABBY: I had a friend, "Mylene," for many years. We swapped dog-sitting to offset the cost for each other. I helped her when she was sick and broke her foot. I walked her dog whenever she needed me. If a funeral, wedding or family emergency came up, I was always there for her.

An aunt of mine in another state passed away. I would have had to drive there, but her daughter was making the funeral arrangements while in the hospital herself. The funeral was delayed until the next week because my aunt's body had to be shipped to another state for the funeral.

When I told Mylene, she said she'd keep my dog, but when the date changed, she said she couldn't do it. "I have to work," she said. Abby, her dog stays at home while she works, so why is there a problem? I reminded her of everything that I have done to help her out when she needed it, but she didn't want to help me. (This was two days before I was to travel for the funeral.)

I have tried many times to apologize to Mylene, but she refuses to make amends with me. All she does is send emojis, which I find disgusting. Can't she call and talk to me like a grown adult to straighten this out? I paid her several times to help her, and this is what I get? What do you think about this? -- DISAPPOINTED IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR DISAPPOINTED: You have done plenty for Mylene, but the time to remind her wasn't when she said she couldn't take care of your dog. (Is this why you "have tried many times to apologize"?) Mylene may have sent emojis instead of calling because you embarrassed her. When we do favors for others, we shouldn't do them with the expectation that we will be paid back. What do I think about this? I think you should find another dog-sitter immediately.

DEAR ABBY: Our daughter and her family live an hour from us. We are both in fair health. Our daughter got a late start on marriage and children. Their girls are 10 and 8. The little one is sweet and shy, but the 10-year-old is a nightmare to be around. She's very smart but also manipulative. She lies, cheats and steals. She is rude and seems to always do exactly the opposite of what an adult tells her to do. If her parents see her being sassy or ugly, they will put her in timeout for 10 minutes, but nothing ever changes.

None of their neighbors wants this child at their home. To make matters worse, she has begun early puberty. We can't stand being around this 10-year-old because it wears us out. We love our daughter and would like to have a good relationship with the whole family. Please advise on how we could help or what we should do. -- EXHAUSTED GRANDPARENTS IN OHIO

DEAR GRANDPARENTS: A 10-minute timeout is not enough discipline for a 10-year-old's consistent bad behavior. Without further intervention, that girl is headed for big trouble. Please suggest to your daughter that she consult a child psychologist about how to get her obviously troubled daughter heading in the right direction before things become worse.

DEAR ABBY: I've been married to a narcissist for 28 years. He has gaslighted me for our entire 30 years together. He has had a "work wife" and a flirtation with the next-door neighbor hottie, and he paid for two sexy girls' dinners (and pies to go) because they happened to be in line in front of us.

After an argument, he even called the police on me. (An entire shift of sheriff officers surrounded our house.) I have developed severely negative emotions toward him, especially when he lies to me. We haven't had sex in a year. We get along fairly well in day-to-day activities, although it bothers me that I have to be chauffeured everywhere I go, including him waiting while I have my hair and nails done.

I'm 67 and feel it is too late to start over. My psychologist can't understand why I don't leave. We aren't destitute, but we're not wealthy either. I don't know which way to turn. -- HATING HIM IN MICHIGAN

DEAR HATING HIM: I find it interesting that as threatened as you feel about your husband's work relationship with his assistant, his flirtation with the hottie next door and two strangers he tried to impress by paying for their takeout dinners (pies included!), HE is so insecure that he must drive you everywhere you go outside the house.

While you think it may be too late for you to start over, you need to clearly define what starting over means to you. I can think of worse fates than freedom from an insecure, possessive, lying narcissist. You are under the care of a licensed psychotherapist. The logical "way to turn" would be in the direction your therapist is trying to guide you.

DEAR ABBY: I am concerned about a dear friend who has a diagnosis of mild dementia. She has no family here. Her closest relatives are four hours away, and she has minimal contact with them. She was widowed 40 years ago and hasn't dated. She always said she had no interest in that. She is deeply involved in our community and has a wide, varied circle of friends.

My concern is that while she has always been active in different events -- the arts, music, adult ed classes -- she is now very interested in men. She has spoken to me about her desire for a sexual relationship. She's 82. I am at a loss about what to tell her and worried about the consequences if she does find a man willing and able. I feel strongly that her desire is a personality change as a result of dementia. Any advice would be appreciated. -- DIFFERENT NOW IN IOWA

DEAR DIFFERENT: Your friend is well enough that she is active in your community. Talk further with your friend about this. She doesn't have to worry about a pregnancy, but STDs among seniors have more than doubled in the United States in the last decade. Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia are all on the rise. Lack of knowledge and low condom use are driving these statistics.

Seniors have a right to a sex life if they wish, but they should be well informed before starting one. Urge your friend to speak with her gynecologist before starting any intimate relationship.

DEAR ABBY: I'm a twice-divorced woman who has no children. I was raised by two deeply religious parents (now deceased) who attended church every Sunday and took me along. I regularly attended church until 15 years ago. At that time, my dad was dying, and I was dating a man I often had brunch and spent time with on Sundays. That man and I broke up 2 1/2 years ago.

I've recently started thinking I should start back to church. I went once about six weeks ago but haven't returned. I keep finding excuses not to go, such as I can't get up early enough on Sunday morning, or I like spending time at home with my cats, or I'm too tired after working all week, etc. I keep wondering how much of my guilt over not going is because of how I was raised, or if it's just that I think I should go.

Is it a sin not to go to church? I've never stopped believing in God, I pray and read the Bible occasionally, and I read a daily devotion every morning. This has me so confused. Please advise. -- OUT OF CHURCH IN TENNESSEE

DEAR OUT: People attend religious services for various reasons. Some do it because it's how they were brought up or because they enjoy the sense of community and the sermon. Others do it because they want to be seen.

Some churches have strict doctrine, while others are not bound to rigid dogma. In some denominations it may be considered a sin not to go. However, I don't think you should force yourself to attend a religious service for any reason other than you think you need it. If you believe in God and read a daily devotion every morning, it may be enough for you.

DEAR ABBY: I have been divorced from "Joanna" for 30 years, but we remained friends and have two children. I met my girlfriend, "Debbie," 20 years ago, but seven years went by before we dated. Debbie is 20 years younger than I. She wanted kids and I did not, so she moved on with another man.

After a couple years of living alone, and after the death of Joanna's boyfriend, I allowed Joanna to rent a bedroom in my house. (I needed the money.) A few years later, Debbie and I ended up back together. Debbie wanted to move in, so she did.

Now that we have all lived together for a couple years, the only problem we have is Debbie's attitude about Joanna, who happens to be very pleasant. (Joanna keeps to herself, in her room.) Debbie also has a bad attitude when my kids visit. She makes them feel uncomfortable. I love Debbie, but she is making a simple life difficult for no good reason. What do you advise? -- ONE OF THREE IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR ONE: Tell Debbie that Joanna is renting a room in your house because you need the money. Tell her that you don't like the fact that she makes your kids feel uncomfortable when they visit. Unless she can manage an immediate 180-degree attitude adjustment, she has to leave. Set a date and then stick to it.