Dear Queenie,

  I am amazed at how one treats one another amidst this corona virus frenzy.

  I wanted to find out my lab test results. I did not have any flu-like symptoms, so I decided to pass by the doctor's office myself, for I did not get through via the phone. I had read the procedures and requirements posted on the entrance door of the doctor’s office a week ago, so I did not expect to have any difficulties.

  As I entered the office, the front-desk clerk was on the phone and motioned to me to go back outside. I was puzzled, and I was offended in the manner in which she motioned to me as an animal to step outside as if I had leprosy.

  As I stood outside the entrance door waiting for her to finish her telephone conversation, only then did I notice a new whiteboard sign placed on the floor leaning against the office wall near the entrance door, informing that one is not to enter until he/she is received by the front-desk clerk at the door to be attended, due to the COVID-19.

  I was upset for the fact that I was expected to see that sign placed on the floor where it is not visible for everyone to see at first glance, for all the other signs are on the door and there is space for more signs to be placed.

  If that sign was to remain there on the floor, another notice should have been placed on the door to summon everyone to read the sign on the floor.

  I know that with new developments of the COVID-19, procedures change. I acknowledge that doctors, nurses and other health care staff are all scared and taking precautions because they are in first contact with sick people. I have no objections to that, for I care for the wellbeing of myself and others. The rest of us are also cautious and scared. For all I know, the doctor or clerk could also be sick and infect others with the COVID-19 whenever patients who do not have the virus visit the office.

  One has to remember to be courteous, civil and keep communication lines open in order to protect ourselves and others as best as we could, for all of us are in this together. Because I know for a fact, the clerk would not have wanted to be treated in the same manner as she did to me.

  Those who are not sick are being ill-treated like animals.

  Queenie, it makes me wonder how the sickly infected persons would be treated.—Concerned Patient

Dear Concerned Patient,

  All health-care workers are being monitored carefully so that they do not pass on COVID-19 to their patients.

  I think that clerk is treating everyone the same – as though they are sickly, or at least infected – just to be on the safe side. I know it is not pleasant for anyone, but doctors and their employees are at more risk than the rest of us and we have to respect them for that.

  Perhaps whoever placed that whiteboard sign thought it would be more noticeable where it was. I hope that when you finally got inside you told them it was not.

Dear Queenie,

  I have a full-time job where I work with other women, but mostly a lot of men, and sometimes we socialize outside of working hours. My husband is convinced that I must be having an affair with at least one of the men, or maybe more than one! I understand that this is because he is insecure and does not think well of himself, but I can’t get him to stop.

  Queenie, how can I convince him that I have always been faithful to him?—Faithful wife

Dear Wife,

  I do not want to add to your problems, but have you considered that maybe your husband’s suspicions are a reflection of his own behaviour – that he has been unfaithful to you?

  Tell him that his accusations are making you wonder about him, and suggest that the two of you go for professional marriage counselling. And, as usual, I suggest that if he will not go with you, you should go alone to get help learning to cope with the way he treats you.

Dear Queenie,

  When my husband and I quarrelled yesterday he drove away in his car and didn’t come home until after he got out of work today. He said he had spent the night at the house of a friend of ours who is a woman but he only slept there, nothing else happened.

  However, she hasn’t spoken to me since that night and won’t answer my phone calls.

  Queenie, how can I believe him?—Suspicious wife

Dear Wife,

  He may be telling you the truth, but you have good reason to doubt his word. Professional counselling might help the two of you resolve this issue. If your husband will not go with you, go alone.

  You have good reason to wonder how good a friend of yours – and your husband! – this woman really is. Hopefully, the counselling will help you resolve that issue, one way or the other, as well.

Dear Queenie,

  My daughter has a friend that lives near us that always comes over to our house to play but my daughter never goes to play at her house, and the little girl never goes home until we make her go, not at suppertime or even bedtime.

  Queenie, I don’t like to throw her out when it’s time for her to go, but what can I do?—Disgusted mother

Dear Mother,

  There may be a very good reason this child is reluctant to go home. Her parent(s) may be abusive, stoned, drunk or just not there.

  Since you say the child lives near you, try walking her home once or twice to get an idea of what her home is like. Then, if you think her situation may be unfit, you might consider notifying the Court of Guardianship and letting them take it from there.