At work at a mattress store a man asked if I’d heard of these water systems for heating and cooling beds.

“I’m a bit wary, I’ll admit,” I told him. “Putting a large amount of water on something that should absolutely not get wet seems risky.”

“I have one,” he replied. “It’s got like a hundred water chambers so it’s supposed to be completely leak proof.”

“That’s what they said about the Titanic,” I said instantly.

It had seemed so funny in my brain but as it hung in the air between us I profoundly regretted saying it. I’d been so caught in the euphoria of a perfect parry to his statement that I didn’t think it through. Even as I sweated in salesperson I was still a little impressed with the speed of my wit.

I watched his eyes dim and his expression slacken in dismay and I wanted to gobble my very funny but inappropriate joke back into my mouth when he admitted, “Mine leaked.”

I burst out in relieved laughter and he was a good sport. He told me the company had replaced it and it really did help him sleep cooler. I suggested a waterproof protector for underneath it and he readily agreed.