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　　A friend invited me to a baseball game．I asked how much the tickets cost, and he replied, "They’re on me．" So I paid for the dinner．At the game, I noticed that his tickets were marked "Complimentary"．My friend said that they were free offers from a client(客戶)．Shouldn’t I have split the dinner check, since the tickets were free? Anonymous

　　I understand your uncertainty．Usually, "the tickets are on me" means "I have paid for them"．Still, you received a benefit：a good evening．And that your friend didn’t pay for the tickets in cash doesn’t mean they had no value．You wouldn’t have been admitted to the game without them．

　　Recently, a couple with a 2-year-old boy moved into the apartment above mine．I wake to the sound of tiny feet running back and forth．I work at home, so I hear the same noise all day．Can I ask for a reasonable compromise(折衷), or must I stand my discomfort? Anonymous

　　I can easily imagine some noise upstairs．It is a good idea to see this as a matter for compromise．Just be sure to welcome your new neighbor before expressing your complaints．And try to visit when the boy is quiet, so his parents won’t be upset and be unfriendly to you．

　　I received an invitation that went like this："We are having a picnic to celebrate Joseph’s graduation．Please let us know what you will bring to eat．" I believe that if I am bringing a gift for the person of honor, I shouldn’t be asked to bring food or drink．Am I wrong? Suzanne

　　An awkward invitation, Suzanne．It would have been better if the invitation had said "no gifts" or if the welcoming hosts had provided the food themselves．As to your reply, maybe it could go as follows："I understand the dictionary we bought for Joseph is a tasty grilled(烤著吃)dish．"