DEAR HARRIETTE: The boy I am taking to prom is from a different high school, and he recently got into an accident that resulted in the loss of some of his teeth and a part of his lip. He is getting surgery soon and will have new teeth for prom, but he will still have very visible scarring. Admittedly, I am superficial and want the attention on me at my senior prom, not on his injury. Is it inappropriate of me to ask him to wear makeup to conceal his wounds? -- Covering Up, Naples, Florida
DEAR COVERING UP: Let's start by giving thanks that your date was not hurt worse and that he is even available to attend to the prom with you. The damage to his face suggests that this was a very bad accident. You would be wise to adopt an attitude of gratitude that he would even consider going to a public function after this.
Apart from your vanity, which could use some checking, let's look at your question strategically. Because your date goes to another school, he won't be getting as much attention as you, anyway. So your job is to make sure he feels comfortable. While it is your prom, it is not all about you. To the issue of makeup, if offered appropriately, it could be kind of you to suggest that you can help him to feel more at ease by applying concealer on his scars (if they no longer have any open wounds) to make them more subtle. Your reason for wanting to give him these touch-ups, though, should be to make him feel better, not you.