DEAR ABBY: I became friends with “Brenda” some years ago. We enjoy each other’s friendship and have many interests in common. My problem is that a year into our friendship, she confided she had a son who was in prison for a crime I cannot morally forgive.

Because he was in prison, I didn’t see a problem with continuing our friendship.

Brenda just let me know her son will be released from prison in a few months and will be living with her. She will want me to meet him and has indicated that she wants him to participate in some of the activities in which we have been participating.

How do I tell Brenda that I want nothing to do with her son but would like to continue our friendship? Is this even possible? — BRENDA’S FRIEND IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR BRENDA’S FRIEND: Once Brenda’s son is released and living with her, count on the fact that they will be joined at the hip unless (or until) he can find a place of his own. It could change the dynamic of your relationship, aside from whether he is a felon. Telling her you want to exclude her son from the activities the two of you have enjoyed together will NOT go over well regardless of how diplomatically you phrase it, and it may spell the end of the friendship. If you start backing away now, it may spark an honest conversation.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.