Miss Manners: My son just laughs when I explain I don't want to eat at the same table his cat sleeps, eats on

This column first ran in 2023.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My son permits his cat to eat and rest on his kitchen table. This is very unpleasant to me, especially at our mealtime. He finds my distaste for this behavior amusing and he refuses to remove the cat. Am I wrong to take my meal elsewhere to dine?

GENTLE READER: Was that not what your son intended?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: At a gathering where someone forgot her glasses, I volunteered to take them to her. While doing so, I accidentally dropped them in the street at night and they got run over by a car. What is my financial responsibility?

GENTLE READER: Before we get to that, you have some apologizing to do.

Miss Manners realizes your intentions were good, but the unfortunate result is that you have deprived this person of something of presumably vital importance that may be troublesome to replace.

You may need to offer logistical and, yes, financial help in replacing them -- more if you add to the annoyance by blurting out the hilarious story of how the old pair ended up under the car.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.