I need to sit with the enjoyable youngsters however not harm my boring buddy

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m a highschool senior who often sits with my buddy Oliver in English class.

I’ve recognized him for a few yr and we get alongside very nicely and hang around outdoors of college. We solely have one class collectively.

We don’t really discuss a lot on this class. I’ve seen he has issue focusing so he can’t be distracted from his schoolwork and our standard shared actions aren’t actually one thing to be doing in school.

I seen at the moment that the desk behind the place Oliver and I sit has about 5 folks and so they have been having a reasonably superb dialog for many of sophistication. I may hear them making some very witty remarks concerning the present project and so they talked rather a lot about TV exhibits I take pleasure in.

I’d wish to ask the instructor if I can transfer to the enjoyable desk. I don’t need Oliver to really feel like I need to keep away from him or don’t take pleasure in his firm; he’s only a bit boring compared.

How ought to I inform Oliver about my resolution with out him forming anxiousness over it? Also I don’t need him to really feel overlooked as just one different individual sits at our present desk and he or she doesn’t actually discuss to both of us.

GENTLE READER: As a rule, Miss Manners considers herself an advocate for any Gentle Reader who has sought her recommendation. Not, in fact, if the intention of the question is to justify rudeness or to be combative.

But yours is neither. Rather, it’s the laudable intention of stopping your pleasure from leading to one other’s desolation.

So far, Miss Manners is with you. But maintain on a minute.

Your grievance about Oliver is that he doesn’t discuss in school a lot. He concentrates on the subject material. So it will be much more enjoyable to affix the hilarious group that isn’t paying consideration.

And you’re interesting to a grown-up that can assist you?

How about making use of a few of that sensitivity to others? You would possibly start with the instructor — who, frankly, ought to have damaged up that desk of wits; then the scholars who’re within the topic; and maybe your personal mother and father, who trusted that you just have been at school to study.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I just lately got here throughout a Victorian-era serving piece described as a “Victorian lobster dish.” I had not beforehand seen dishes designated for lobster, nor had I seen any that had a lobster determine because the deal with of the divided dish, as this one does.

What recipe for lobster would use a elaborate, divided serving dish?

GENTLE READER: Lobster and dressing? Lobster salad? Lobster risotto?

This is just not the meals division, however Miss Manners, who maintains that one doesn’t want elaborate gear to entertain, is nonetheless charmed by the Victorian craze for specialization. Still, she is not going to report you for those who use it for crab salad.

Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her e-mail, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or by postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.