The Two Dennises

Hannah Mortimer observes a close encounter of the same kind.

- Hannah Mortimer

Dennis had just poured milk over his cereal when there was Da knock at the door. He went to answer it. "Hello," said the man on the doorstep. He had a strangely familiar voice. "I am here to take you to our universe." He smiled and gestured, as if in explanation, first to the tall woman standing next to him, and then to the giant spaceship that was parked in the middle of the road, creating a line of cars either side of it. It was only when Dennis gave his uncertain "Hello" back to the man that he realised where he'd heard his voice before: it was Dennis's own voice. 'My voice sounds much less posh than his does,' Dennis thought. "I don't think you can park there," he said.

"Oh, don't worry about that," said the other, "those cars won't be bothering you much longer."

"Sorry," he said eventually, "Who are you?" He had to speak up over the honking horns.

"Why don't we go somewhere a little quieter, hmmm?"

The man led their way through Dennis's house, towards the living room. Dennis sadly eyed his now soggy cornflakes as he walked past the kitchen table. The man sat in Dennis's armchair, crossing one leg over the other. "Dennis," he said: "I am you." He smiled as if that explained everything. Dennis leaned forward from his seat on the sofa, waiting for a better explanation. "What?" He said.

"I am you. I am also Dennis -"