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join.’
    ‘I think
there’s a seniors division.’
    ‘Maybe there’s
a veteran’s league,’ he repeated, emphasising wholly on the V word.
    ‘Tony plays too
Dad,’ said Emma who laid down her largely untouched curry and nestled back into
Trevor’s arms.
    ‘Only
kick-arounds down the park,’ said Tony.
    ‘Maybe you and
Trevor could go for a kick-about one day.’ The two guys made silent eye contact
and gave non-committal nods. Between them, acting as moderator, Emma's dad
turned back to the TV. After realising the action was finally relenting he
backed out of the room, probably in search of his wife. His son had made
himself scarce early on.
    By the time the
credits were rolling Trevor lay on the verge of sleep whilst Emma and Tony had
allowed the film to conclude with little chat. Tony gave Trevor an obligatory
handshake as he got up to leave and Emma followed him out of the room.
    ‘He seems
nice,’ said Tony. He opened the front door and stepped down to the porch. The
passing night traffic drew red and white lines behind him.
    ‘Thank you,
glad you approve. Time you found someone yourself isn't it?’
    ‘It's always
time to find someone myself.’ They hugged as the evening chill spilled into the
house around them. Tony didn’t notice it until they broke apart. ‘Still fancy
popping over for a cuppa tomorrow? It’s a Saturday; with the exception of
evening drinks my day is all clear.’
    ‘Definitely.’
    ‘Cool, I also…’
Tony trailed off. He’d wanted to mention the repeat images to somebody, but how
did you broach a subject like it? Hey, I’ve started seeing doubles of
people. Obviously, I’ve gone mad. They are echoes that follow the first
incarnation, mimicking them . Ignoring the issue seemed the most natural way
of dealing with the situation. He knew Emma’s response would be a lecture on
how that would be a typical man’s reaction to any problem.
    ‘Yes?’ said
Emma.
    ‘I’ll tell you
tomorrow.’
    Tony headed
home, naturally drawn to all those that passed hoping none had a doppelganger,
removed from a reality it appeared only he could see.
     
    That night he
lay awake as memories of those who had haunted him broke into his waking
dreams. It had all started a year ago, but the more he thought about it the
more it was possible it had been going on for longer. Maybe forever. Whatever
it was, it was now something he had grown finely attuned to. The first notable
occurrence had been the woman with the dog. He had been leaving his parent’s
house sometime in the late summer. This point had been crucial at the time as
he had tried to blame it on a trick of the light, the hot sun, and the one
glass of wine he had consumed. He had been getting into his car, parked out on
the road, when she passed and crossed to the opposite pavement. Tony had then
got in his car as the same woman approached. At first he thought nothing of it.
It was just another person, female, dressed similar, with a dog. But it was as
she crossed the street that doubts as to whether all was normal crept in. He
saw her within the rearview mirror whilst also in the reflection he could make
out the first woman disappearing into the distance before turning right at the
end of the street. They had been too similar , he thought as he had
watched the second woman follow the first’s path away from the car.
    Over the
following weeks, further incidents had occurred which he had continued to
ignore - or at least attempt to. These always involved witnessing doubles of
people. Someone would pass, to be followed moments - usually seconds - later by
an exact replica that only he could see. No one else ever reacted to them, just
like the second guy who had dropped the in-tray at the interview that morning.
    What was
keeping him awake now was the insistence that things were getting worse. These
visions were becoming more regular. The women with the dogs had been months ago
with usually a week before he witnessed another. Now things