Miss Manners: She posted online that I stole her socks. What do I do now?

DEAR MISS MANNERS My sister loves socks and buys only expensive ones I was visiting her in the last few days and a favorite pair of her socks gray wool embroidered with red raspberries and green leaves went missing Related Articles Dear Abby My ex-husband is our neighbor and I m getting fed up with his behavior Miss Manners She was blatantly using the tablecloth as a napkin Is that OK Dear Abby Should I tell my friend how she comes across at our office Miss Manners If it s one person with a laptop can I ask to share their table Miss Manners Is it rude to ignore a friend s annoying text She accused me of taking them I advised her I certainly did not When I was leaving and she was embracing me goodbye she whispered I know you took my socks There was nobody here but me and you and they vanished I assured her again I did not take her socks I do not even wear socks myself Since then she has posted online joking that I stole her socks but would not admit it I have been humiliated Should I deny her accusation online Should I speak to her pastor Eventually what does happen to missing socks GENTLE READER Everyone knows that washing machines and dryers eat socks although rarely in pairs The minute you leave the laundry area the appliances are gurgling with laughter as they envision you left holding a mateless sock So it is not only unjust but unamusing to accuse other people of such a ridiculous crime or any other You could ignore the post safe in the knowledge that no one will really believe you to be a petty thief But if it bothers you you could continue the supposed joke Miss Manners suggests Dahlia dear look in your dryer And if you want to be mean and at your feet DEAR MISS MANNERS I have hired a cleaning woman and she requirements money to save for a newer automobile She has no family in town so I m thinking about asking her to work on Thanksgiving by serving us and cleaning up at the family dinner She has opened up to me about very private details of her life so I feel like I know her on a more personal level How do I treat her at the dinner I m not sure the family would like to have a stranger at the table and I would feel a bit guilty having her sit by herself to eat elsewhere at Thanksgiving How do I help her by providing employment without making her feel somehow inferior or lonely GENTLE READER By giving her extra pay for working on a holiday Perhaps you will think it callous of Miss Manners not to invoke the Thanksgiving legend of welcoming all to share in the bounty But it is not only your relatives who would feel awkward if you were to turn her into specific hybrid of server and guest Related Articles Jill On Money Five stages of job loss Why are birds perching on only set of power lines StubHub misled me about my concert ticket refund What should I do Asking Eric I m hiding in the bedroom while he entertains his ex-wife and her mom Harriette Cole My overstepping ex keeps popping up like he s part of my family Is she to jump up between courses and wait on her fellow diners who will undoubtedly jump up to help Is she to sit in silence while family matters are discussed or will the family be inhibited from doing so A large number of people work on holidays or society would come to a standstill You seem to consider it pitiful but in particular cases it is heroic And lots of people have delayed Thanksgiving celebrations or just skip the ritual Your cleaning woman has the option of accepting or rejecting the extra work when she weighs the prospect of the job against the satisfaction of adding to her car fund 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