While paying for groceries, the cashier looked at the jar of baby food in front of me and said, "Congratulations." Without thinking, I said, "Thanks." There is no baby. The baby food was pumpkin purée for a recipe because the normal canned pumpkin shelf was empty. Could have explained. Instead I packed it and escaped. Outside, realized I'd forgotten milk and had to go straight back through her checkout. She smiled. "Pregnancy brain?" Again, for reasons beyond science: "Yeah." Now there was a fictional pregnancy with continuity. Then she asked when I was due. At that exact moment, my actual sister appeared behind me, heavily pregnant. The cashier looked between us. Sister heard just enough to ask, "You too?" "No." Cashier: "Wait." Sister: "What did you tell her?" "Nothing." The cashier folded her arms. "You said October." I hadn't even said October. She stared at me for two seconds, then started laughing. "Sorry. I wanted to see if you'd agree." I absolutely would have.