If I answer the question, I appear to be interrupting. If my husband defers to me, which he does in the unlikely event that he notices I'm getting blown off, they will still often turn to him and ask the next question, sometimes without acknowledging I have spoken.

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At what point is it okay to interrupt this one-sided, maddening dynamic? What should we do in this instance? My husband sometimes notices it going on, but is often focused on making the customer happy and just answers them out of a sense of efficiency.

Wait, isn’t this also a handywoman business? Must you always come as a pair?

If so, Miss Manners humbly suggests that you stop. It seems as if it would be twice as productive for the business — and infinitely better for your marriage.

Take turns, with one of you talking to the customers and the other ... doing something else. Inventory, perhaps?

Then make a pledge that when a question comes up that one of you is better suited to answer, you will appropriately redirect your customers. Or if separating is truly unthinkable, get yourselves cute nametags that list your separate specialties on them — and point to them often.

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Dear Miss Manners: I live in a small town with a divided two-lane highway that leads you out of town to the nearest bigger city where I work, have appointments, etc.

One Saturday, I was headed to an appointment in the bigger town when a large funeral procession took over the left lane of the highway. I realized that I was going to be late for my appointment if I stayed behind the procession. I decided to go around the cars using the right lane so I could get ahead of them.

The car in front of me saw that I was moving over, and got in front of me to block me from passing and stayed there. I was, of course, late. What else could I have done in this situation? Was I incorrect, or was the car blocking me from moving forward incorrect?

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Many states have laws against passing or interrupting a funeral procession. So in effect, that car was helping you not get a ticket.

But if you would like to challenge it, Miss Manners suggests that you take it up with your local authorities, citing your unique situation of being late for an appointment.

New Miss Manners columns are posted Monday through Saturday on washingtonpost.com/advice. You can send questions to Miss Manners at her website, missmanners.com.