I went to the local specialty-lumber supplier and selected a quantity of material for a small boat. The shopkeeper looked at the order, then at me and said quite sure of himself, “Ah-ha! You must be building a boat.”

I was in no mood for smalltalk.

“No,” I responded, as deadpan as I could muster, “Spaceship.”

I stared at him for a moment, unblinking, and giving him just enough time to process my response. “I’m just trying to get home.”