DEAR MISS MANNERS: I hired a woman to clean my house. She is very thorough and does a wonderful job. Looking ahead to the holidays, I plan on giving her a bonus for a job well done.

Do I give her assistant an equal bonus? Or is half as much proper?

GENTLE READER: Give a large bonus to the main housekeeper and tell her it is for both her and her assistant. This will make the decision of how to split it her problem. Merry Christmas.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am the youngest of three brothers, and have always been close to my brother who is three years older than me. My other brother is seven years older, and because of the age gap, we weren’t so close growing up.

I just turned 50, which I consider a big birthday. The brother whom I am closest to took me out for dinner and gave me a

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