MISS MANNERS by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS : I am at a restaurant eating spaghetti, and through my own carelessness, a meatball rolls off my plate and onto the floor, coming to rest near my feet.

Should I let it be, leaving it for the waitstaff to find and deal with? Or should I dive down and pick it up, either with my hand or napkin? If I do pick up the errant meatball, where does it go?

GENTLE READER: Are you sure you want to wait that long for someone else to find it, presumably after the meal?

Miss Manners would be afraid she would forget, only to be reminded upon squishily standing up. Fearing the same outcome, not to mention an unpleasant reception should she ever wish to return to the restaurant, she would be reluctant to kick it

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