Miss Manners agrees that ultimatums with friends can be awkward, but in this case, a time limit would have been helpful. Or ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the rule on inviting someone to accompany you to a play that’s close to being sold out, and they don’t respond to your invitation in a timely way?

That would indeed stretch the food. But assuming they are separate: ...

That would indeed stretch the food. But assuming they are separate: ...

That would indeed stretch the food. But assuming they are separate: ...

Uninvited neighbors keep showing up to the letter writer’s gatherings. Dear Miss Manners: How can I politely invite someone ...

This is fine. We encourage everyone to take food home but everyone else also contributes. None of the members of the group ...