Ask Sir Charles: Ticklish case of brotherly love

Q: Whenever my family gets together for various holidays, parties or events, my brother's wife is flirtatious with me, especially when we find ourselves in the kitchen and my brother is outside cooking on the grill. He's a fabulous cook, but she tells me he spends way too much time cooking on the grill rather than cooking, well, other places. Should I say something to her? Should I tell my brother? Or should I keep it to myself?

- Big Tim from Exton

A: You need to figure out whether your sister-in-law is just being friendly or not. Don't confuse being friendly with making a pass. Maybe she's just always flirtatious; she just might be having fun with you. You've got to wait until she crosses a line before you call her out. Just because a woman is nice to you, it doesn't mean she's making a pass at you. Some people just like to joke around. As long as they don't cross a line, it's nothing to worry about. Only tell your brother if she crosses a line. You never know: Maybe you're the cool brother and she just likes to have fun with you.

Q: Please help me settle a bet. I have always considered public bathrooms to be the sort of sacred place where one doesn't engage in a lot of chitchat with anybody, be they friends, family or strangers. I have a friend, though, who contends that it's totally fine to make small talk in a public bathroom. Indeed, he seems intent on chatting up whomever he can while in the can. In your humble opinion, which one of us is right?

- John in Swarthmore

A: Two words: You are. I have a lot of experience with this, unfortunately, and let me tell you, it's very annoying to me when I'm holding my Johnson and a guy wants to talk to me about the Sixers. It's also inappropriate, but it happens every single time when I'm trying to pee. It's inappropriate when a guy's going to the bathroom to say, "I'm a big fan." But that stuff happens all the time. I understand sometimes people get excited - a guy is standing beside you, he'll look up at you and go, "Hey, you're Charles Barkley." I say, "Yes sir." But listen: Stop the conversation right there until we're done. Don't keep talking. I have the same problem with people trying to talk to me when I'm trying to eat in a restaurant. It happens all the time.

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For more information on Charles Barkley, his Hall of Fame NBA career, and his current exploits on television, go to charlesbarkley.com.