word bank

How good are you at doing the right thing? Here's an opportunity to put your wisdom to work. If you were in the following situation, what would you do?

Who's that girl

by Ruth Seamans/Illustrations by Ling Ching

Jan and her boyfriend, Sam, went out for a nice lunch at a gourmet restaurant to celebrate Jan's birthday.
After the waitress seated them at a table and took their orders, Jan scanned the room. What she saw surprised her. Doug, her best friend Alison's new boyfriend, was sitting at a table on the far side of the room. And an attractive, young girl walked up to the table and hugged him! Jan had never seen this girl before. She could only guess why this girl was with her best friend's boyfriend.

If you were Jan, what would you do?
Would you do this…

Decision 1
Jan: Oh, that makes me mad! I can't believe it!
Sam: What are you talking about?
Jan: Alison's boyfriend, Doug. He's at that table over there with a girl. And it's not Alison! He's two-timing her!
Sam: you don't know that for sure.
Jan: Then why did he hug her? If that's not two-timing, I don't know what is!
Sam: there you go jumping to conclusions again.
Jan: I'm not jumping to conclusions.
Sam: Yes, you are. You're assuming Doug is here on a date. That girl could be his sister or a cousin or something equally innocent. If you say anything to Alison, you may cause needless trouble.
Jan: Well…maybe you're right. I guess I won't say anything about this to Alison.

Or would you do this…

Decision 2
Jan: Excuse me, Sam. I have to go and make a phone call.
(She goes into the hallway and dials a number on her cell phone)
Voice: Hello?
Jan: Hey, Alison. It's me, Jan.
Alison: Hi, Jan. What's up? I thought you and Sam were going out for a gourmet lunch today.
Jan: We are. I'm in the restaurant with him now. But I wanted to tell you something important.
Alison: What's that?
Jan: Doug is here. And he's with a girl!
Alison: With a girl! How dare he go out with someone behind my back!
Jan: I thought you'd want to know.
Alison: I do. And next time I see him, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. I'm not going to put up with this kind of behavior!

Or would you do this…

Decision 3
Jan: Sam, do you see who's at that table over there?
Sam: No. Who?
Jan: Alison's boyfriend, Doug. I thing I'll go over and say hello.
Sam: Go ahead.
(Alison walks over to the other table)
Jan: Hi, Doug. Remember me? I'm Alison's best friend. I'm having lunch here today, too. I thought I'd say hi.
Doug: Oh, hi, Jan. How are you?
Jan: Fine, thanks. Who's your friend?
Doug: This is my cousin Mia. She had a layover here in town for a few hours. Mia, this is Jan.
Jan: Nice to meet you, Mia.
Mia: Nice to meet you, Mia.
Doug: Alison hasn't met Mia yet. We're going to stop by and see Alison on our way back to the airport.
Jan: Well, have fun. I hear the food here is fabulous. I think I'll go back my table and enjoy mine!