August 22, 2026 Issue, Page 5 of 14

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026 • 5 Child’s Baby Talk Grates on Woman’s Nerves DEAR ABBY: I’ve been seeing DEAR BEYOND ANNOYED: DEAR ABBY: I’m an 82-year- (which he may be aware of), I’m “Brad” for nine months. We both DEAR ABBY Brad’s daughter uses baby talk be- old retired librarian, openly gay afraid it may seem a little creepy. have children of our own. He has cause that is how the adults in her and a member of the Friends of Should I ask him to lunch or just a daughter, and I have a son. The daughter by telling her that big life have spoken to her. If they had the Library. The Friends group try to put him out of my mind? -- little girl is a few months older girls don’t talk that way, but it has used plain English instead, she I’m active in is associated with a TORN IN TEXAS than my 7-year-old son. I can see been futile. I feel the need to bring wouldn’t be speaking the way she branch library I managed more DEAR TORN: You may want myself having a family with Brad. this up with Brad, but I’m afraid does. I agree that you can’t tell this than 50 years ago. The current my reason is not valid. I don’t to believe you “have no romantic However, one of my biggest pet man that what she’s doing drives branch manager is a gay man designs,” but you’re clearly open peeves is when children use baby want to tell him, “Have her stop you up a wall. Instead, explain to around 30 years of age. I see him because she’s annoying the heck to the idea. Instead of a one-on- talk. Brad’s daughter seems to be him that if she does this around at the meetings of Friends as well out of me.” one lunch, why not invite him to a doing it more and more, and it’s other children, she is likely to be as when I visit the library for my driving me crazy! My son doesn’t Brad has addressed some things teased for it and that it’s time to own reading. social gathering as part of a larger talk like that, and when he has, with my son, and I’ve been OK teach her to speak properly. You I’d be lying if I said I’m not at- group? That will keep your over- I’ve corrected the situation. It’s with it. I think we can speak open- can’t control what her mother tracted to him, but I have no ro- ture friendly rather than roman- not just because it’s his daughter; I ly about our concerns in regard to does, but her father could be help- mantic designs, and there’s no way tic. As you get to know him bet- would feel this way with any other each other’s children. I need help ful in this situation once he recog- he would think of me in those ter, if you find you still want more kid who spoke like this. with wording my dilemma with- nizes that it may create problems terms. I’d like to invite him to than friendship, either confess I don’t think Brad notices. I out sounding like a harpy. Please for her. lunch, as an act of friendship, but your feelings or take a step back to have tried addressing it with his help. -- BEYOND ANNOYED in view of my attraction to him end the self-torture. CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield