DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and I'm extremely shy. I feel lonely because I'm not popular and I really only have one friend, if you can call her a friend. It seems like she only talks to me when no one else is around for her to talk to. She sort of implies that I'm a loser, because she is always bragging about how great her other friends are and how they have such great times together. She has never invited me to join her and her other friends, and ignores me when they are around.

I sometimes think I'd be better off having no friends than trying to be hers. I'm thinking about telling her off. What should I do? — Nameless, Norfolk, Va.

NAMELESS: This girl is not a friend, and you're definitely better off without her in your life, always putting you down. However, that doesn't mean you have to be friendless.

Instead, you need to get involved with school activities and get acquainted with other students. Your school has a wide range of extracurricular activities available. There are clubs for special interests, such as music and science, intramural athletics, dances, football and basketball games, student government, the school newspaper and the yearbook. You have the opportunity to explore your own interests and give your talents a chance to bloom. You will meet students who will have similar interests and will become new friends. You'll be so busy that you won't give another thought to your former friend's negativity.

ORGANIC FOODS ARE WORTH EXTRA COST

DR. WALLACE: I'm going to be married soon and everything is perfect except for one small thing — what to feed my future husband? I have been taught how to make "normal" meals, but he is a health nut and says he only eats "organic, natural or health" foods. I'm not quite sure I know what this all means and although I've gone grocery shopping with my mom, I'm not sure how limiting this will be for me to cook meals that he will eat.

I don't mind feeding him his "rabbit food," but if you can tell me I'd be happy to bake you a loaf of "wheat germ bread" or a soybean "meatloaf." — Vikki, Jackson, Miss.

VIKKI: Thanks for the offer, but I would really prefer 12-grain wheat bread and baked red salmon.

However, to answer your question, "organic" means that the food has been grown without pesticides or artificial fertilizers, and has not been treated with hormones or preservatives.

"Natural" foods contain no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

"Health" foods are dietetic or vegetarian products, which may or may not be free from chemical additions.

"Organic" foods are abundant in most grocery stores, and while they are more expensive, they are worth the extra expense. There are also specialty stores that sell only organic, natural or healthy foods. You should take a stroll through a grocery store and a specialty store before you marry, so that you will be able to ask the clerks questions and perhaps obtain brochures or a cookbook that will help you.

THE MYTH OF A CAT'S NINE LIVES

DR. WALLACE: I'm curious about why we say that cats have 9 lives? I love my kitty a lot, and hope she does live a long time! — Nameless, Michigan City, Ind.

NAMELESS: Cats are blessed with "nine lives," partly because they are quick, mobile, agile and highly intelligent.

But the myth of "nine lives" actually came from the Egyptians, who worshipped cats and regarded them as supernatural creatures. The Egyptians placed great emphasis on the family trinity (father, mother and child), and considered three a sacred number. As a mark of honor, they began to associate the square of that number with cats. And this is how felines got nine lives!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.