How are you? I love reading your column and hope that you can help me.

I’m 21 years old and the mother of a six-month-old daughter. Last year I became pregnant. The father married me but, unfortunately, kept his girlfriend, who has three kids by a previous marriage. He spends a lot of time with her, including card games with what I thought were our friends, a married couple down the way.

I gave up my clerical job with the county during my sixth month of pregnancy. I have no income. My husband is paying our rent and shows up every other day with a $20 bill for food. He has nothing whatever to do with our baby.

I have no car, but I’m able to stroller my way into the village. Needless to say, I’m stuck as a bug in a rug. Please don’t suggest that I contact my mother. When I was 15, she ran off with my high school football coach and pretty much abandoned me.

Here I am stuck on a mountain, where my husband put me, without transportation, with no money, no job and an adorable, but demanding, child to care for. Should I stick this out and stay quiet? We no longer sleep in the same bed, so that’s over.

Desperate in Crestline

Dear Desperate in Crestline,

First concern from me is your need for baby supplies. Are the village liquor stores carrying formula and diapers now that Crestline has no grocery store? Are you an Amazon Prime customer? Surely not.

How does this work these days? Does one sue for divorce first and then head for the welfare department? Also, can you find out if you can be reinstated into your county clerk job? Who’s to say how long versatile lover boy will continue to cover the rent and drop by with a cool 20?

This is a very sad situation, but is a darned good advertisement for birth control.

As far as reaching out to your mom, putting a precious granddaughter into the equation may completely change your current situation. Her travesty might be forgiven under special circumstances—or maybe not.

I do hope that you are attending a church and reaching out to the good people you will find there. I’ve found that prayer really does work.

Sidney

Send your questions for Sidney to [email protected] or by snail mail to Dear Sidney, The Alpine Mountaineer, P.O. Box 4572, Crestline, CA 92325.

This advice is intended for entertainment purposes only. No animals were harmed in the writing of this column.