Well THAT Was Uncalled For

We interrupt our regularly-scheduled anger and fear to bring you a new segment we're calling: Well, THAT Was Uncalled For.

Today's contestant is the stranger in line behind me at the sandwich shop by my office. The woman who runs the place remembers that I am pregnant but, having forgotten I am having twins, asked if I am due in a month or so. I say, "no, I have a few more months, I am just ahead in size because I am having twins."  This elicits a loud gasp from the woman behind me. A gasp that would have been appropriate had she heard me say, "actually, I am not pregnant, this is a large malignant tumor that will kill me within six months."

I turned around to see this woman looking at me with a look of complete horror. I was actually more shocked by her expression than by the gasp, as I had assumed the noise she'd made was a (pitiful, inappropriate) attempt at a joke. But no, she's really just horrified at the thought that a stranger is carrying twins and doesn't mind expressing that in a completely rude and unthoughtful manner.

"You really shouldn't do that to a stranger," I said. "You can do that kind of thing to friends, but not to people you do not know." The rest of the brief interaction is kind of a blur, and I move away to grab some salad. A minute later, maybe to fill the now quiet space in the cafe, the woman making my sandwich kindly tells me that she wishes she could have had twins. (I am a bit surprised how much I have heard this, even if people only mean it in the most fleeting way.)

So there, my first utterly inappropriate pregnancy comment. (if you can call a gasp a comment, which I guess I will) While several people have asked me if twins run in my family, which is maybe a step from asking if twins are "naturally occuring" or due to intervention, until now no one did anything to suggest that a twin pregnancy is so horrible or pitiable that it would make someone lose control of their good sense and social graces. Most people seem to have a bit more control, thankfully.