Trapped by a Deceptive Friend: Dear Prudence

A reader is frustrated with a friend who asks about their plans without revealing the reason, and then asks them to babysit her sick child for three hours. The reader feels manipulated and unable to say no. When the reader confronts the friend, she takes it personally and threatens to end the friendship. The advice columnist suggests that the friend may be desperate for help but is going about it in the wrong way. The reader should stand firm on their boundaries while being gentle with the friend, and keep the door open for repairing the relationship in the future.