Miss Manners: Should I cancel the dinner because of my friend’s unwelcome companion?

DEAR MISS MANNERS I have invited to dinner two old codgers I ve known for years Related Articles Miss Manners Was the bride s note weird or insulting or both Miss Manners The bride screwed up What can she say to smooth things over Miss Manners They say I look like this actress and I don t think it s a compliment Miss Manners Can I tell the other organization s snarky soccer parents to sit somewhere else Miss Manners I think this novelist owes me an apology One is a bachelor and the other has been married for various years so I also invited his wife to the dinner party I m a spinster about their age I ve known and liked the man s wife for a long time and would like to socialize with her She happens to be physically disabled Here s the issue I was tipped off by the other fellow that the husband plans to bring a more mobile young thing rather than his wife to my dinner party I was very explicit that his wife was invited and I am now furious that he would even consider bringing someone else It will never be explained that I hosted a dinner party for someone who left his wife at home and brought a charming young substitute I m willing to cancel if that s what it takes Do you have any other suggestions GENTLE READER Say how charmed you are to meet his niece DEAR MISS MANNERS Twice in the past scant months when tidying up the spare room after overnight guests I have located a guest s garments left behind With a scarf or a shirt this situation seems easily resolved Drop the item at the post office with a quick note telling the guest how lovely it was to see her and how we hoped she hadn t missed the item for too long However with apparel of a more intimate variety we find ourselves flummoxed on how to proceed What is the the greater part polite syllabus of action GENTLE READER You are not being solicited to model these items or to envision the consequences of their loss Miss Masters instructs you to just send them back DEAR MISS MANNERS I work for a very popular practitioner at a large optical practice My issue is that when I ask for payment patients argue with me about the prices Multiple of them do so loudly and this is in the lobby in front of others They seem to figure that the squeaky wheel gets the grease I work alone and need to keep the peace Between answering calls collecting fees and taking patients back for pre-testing and then to the healthcare provider for the exam time is not my friend I have much to do in a little amount of time and I have to keep it moving or there s a train wreck What polite short to-the-point thing can I say with a smile on my face and in my voice to keep the mood upbeat Related Articles Dear Abby After the gaslighting he wants me to trust him again Think you ve uncovered a lost cat Here s what to do and not to do Asking Eric Every month it s the same drill with our irresponsible friend Harriette Cole My friend the influencer is suddenly ignoring me Miss Manners Was the bride s note weird or insulting or both GENTLE READER As a representative of the practice you do not want to disparage it but you can remind the patients of what you can and cannot do to assist I m sorry I don t set the prices but here is what I can do to help This last part presumably includes referring them to someone in the billing department or at their insurance company Miss Manners realizes this will not solve their real complaint the cost but it will remind them that you are helpful polite and powerless So they may as well move along Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website www missmanners com to her email gentlereader missmanners com or through postal mail to Miss Manners Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO