"Why do we need to do that?"

"Because right now people cannot have as many children as they want and some never get any at all."

"I don't know how to do that."

"I believe you."

"Aren't you the government?"

"I work in the government. I am not in charge, and I do not know exactly what decisions would be made if we found out that there was an alien left on Amenta."

"Why didn't they check if I was an alien?"

"People do leave babies on doorsteps sometimes. That by itself isn't enough to make people think of any crazy explanations - the cookies is the thing we can't explain, and if we had gone to the doctor instead of cancelling the doctor might have noticed other unusual things."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. If you eat a lot less than us then possibly things about your blood are different."

"Maybe I don't have blood."

"That is the sort of thing the doctor would notice. Do you think you don't have blood?"

"Well, I didn't know what it was. I know what a lot of things are but not blood."

"That is true. If you were an alien, and we just didn't think of it because it's such a ridiculous idea, that'd be okay, no one would be doing anything wrong. If we knew for sure you were an alien, though, and did not tell anyone, then we would be breaking the law."

"If I decide I am probably an alien am I breaking the law?"

"No. Lots of small children think they are probably an alien or a lost princess or a cat and that is entirely allowed."

"What if I still think it when I am older?"

"If you were ever asked in an official context you might want to say 'I wondered if I was an alien but it seemed like a crazy thing to wonder'."

"It doesn't seem crazy though."

"When you are four we could revisit whether there are things you should do to make sure you are following the law."

"Okay. Does this mean I should not tell you if I notice more alien things about me."

"I think maybe I am a very thickheaded person and will just not think they are very alien. But I do want to know things you notice about yourself."

...she looks sort of confused.

"You should tell us things. Figuring out how to follow the law and keep you safe is our job, because we are grownups and know all the details, and it should not be your job, that would not be fair."

"...okay."