Dear Abby >> My friend of eight years has her 55-year-old son living with her. She has been driving a man around who she told me is a friend of her son’s and she knows his family. What she never mentioned is that he’s a registered violent sex offender who was just released from prison.

She knows how I feel about this issue. Sex offenders are not allowed where we live because there are children here. I am very upset, and I told her to never call me again or come to my home. She brought the man to her home for a cookout. Children live on both sides of her. She has been trying to talk to me, but I have walked away. I feel hurt and lied to. She seems to not care about protecting the children in the neighborhood. What should I do here?

— Incensed in Indiana

Dear Incensed >> Do the responsible thing. For the safety of those children, inform the police that a neighbor has been bringing a registered violent sex offender to her home in spite of the fact that minor children live on either side of her. The authorities can take it from there.

TO MY ASIAN READERS WHO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR >> The Lunar New Year begins today. It’s the Year of the Snake. According to Asian culture, individuals born in the year of the snake are goal-oriented. They are excellent mediators — intelligent, refined, clever in business and are good providers because they value material wealth. A healthy, happy and prosperous New Year to you all. (Hiss, hiss, hooray!)

— Love, Abby

Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.