Animal instinct

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

I have a "fuzzy" kind of situation. My boyfriend of a year-and-a-half, "Bill," recently asked me to move in with him. I did so, and we have been adjusting to our new living arrangements. For the most part it has been good, but there’s one problem. When I moved in, Bill told me he was ready to take the next step toward honesty and openness, and he wanted to share something special with me — his childhood stuffed animal collection.

Since his confession, he’s been adding to his collection. We have a king-sized bed, and Bill lines up the animals whenever we’re intimate. I know this is stupid, but I feel like they’re watching me. I’d like to talk to Bill about this, but I feel silly mentioning it, especially since I know the stuffed animals are so important to him. Any advice?

— Locked in Teddy’s Gaze

Dear Locked,

Dr. Lovemonkey will tamp down his suspicions and accept that this is a legitimate question. At least it sounds like you’re not creeped out by this, as some people (especially those who have seen a lot of cheap horror movies) might be. Obviously, "Bill" knows that his collection and the line-up routine are weird and unusual. That’s why he talked to you about taking "the next step toward honesty and openness." Dr. Lovemonkey thinks there is nothing silly about you talking to him about his stuffed animals, and how they became so important to him. Because you also wish to be "open and honest," you’d like to know more because it is an unusual attraction.

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

I’ve got myself into a bind and I’m wondering if you have any advice on how to handle this. I have a really good friend named Carole. She has been one of my best friends for a many years. We do a lot of things together: go out to dinner, go to the theater, go skiing, etc., and are platonic friends. A few weeks a go I met a woman, Annie, and we really hit it off. I like her a lot and she seems to like me a lot. We’ve only been out once, but we have been talking to each other just about every day on the telephone. This is definitely building toward a romance.

The problem is this. Annie has invited me to have Easter dinner with her and her family, and I really would like to go, but I told Carole a long time ago that we’d do something together on Easter. (My family is Polish, and Easter is a major deal with us Poles.) I have put off giving Annie an answer. I don’t know how to explain this situation to Carole without hurting her feelings, and I’m not sure I should, since I’m already committed to doing things with her. On the other hand, if I tell Annie that I have plans with someone else, she might get the wrong idea about my relationship with Carole. Do you have any suggestions as to how I handle this situation?

— Caught In the Middle

Dear Caught,

Your friendship with Carole has some history, and it sounds like it is important to both of you. The new romance may or may not take off, but this is about loyalty and friendship. Explain to Annie your friendship with Carole, and introduce the two of them. That you have an ongoing, non-romantic relationship with a woman should be perceived as a very good thing. Certainly, the dynamics of this friendship is likely to change. If things work out with Annie, you’ll be seeing less of Carole. Here’s hoping it all works out with no hurt feelings. But keep your obligation to Carole and continue to see Annie.

Send questions and romantic quandaries to RUDYCHEEKS@prodigy.net