Beatles.
‘You’re dressed exactly like they are!’ I exclaim, pointing at the photo.
Harry looks at the picture. ‘Why, thank you, yes I was trying to model my look on them. My suit isn’t quite the quality of theirs, or even the price. But I’m glad you like it.’
‘But a few minutes ago you were wearing something different, weren’t you?’ I ask aghast, staring at his clothes.
‘Nope, don’t think so,’ Harry says. He bends down to look at me. ‘Maybe you’ve had more of a bump to your head than you think? Follow my finger.’ He moves a finger from side to side in front of my face.
‘Harry, leave the poor girl alone,’ George Mark II comes out from the back of the shop carrying two china cups balancing on saucers. ‘I’ve made you some too, Harry,’ he says, sitting down on the chair next to me and handing me my tea. ‘Can you go and collect it?’
Harry sighs good naturedly, and departs to fetch his own tea.
I look at this doppelganger George. ‘How come you look so young?’ I ask, staring at him.
He laughs. ‘Must be all the tea I drink. Take a sip of yours, Jo-Jo, I’ve made it extra sweet. It will help with the shock.’
I lift my cup and drink the hot tea while I continue to watch him. He’s right, it is extremely sweet.
Harry returns with his own cup and saucer. What has happened to the mugs we were using earlier that George has always used before?
I look up at the two of them. ‘What’s going on here? Where’s the joke?’ I ask.
‘What do you mean?’ Harry asks.
‘I mean, how come
you’re
dressed all funny?’ I demand, pointing my finger at him. ‘And why does
this
George looks like he does?’ I swivel round in my chair and thrust my face into George’s. ‘Is it some sort of television trickery? Have you had prosthetic make-up? Where’s the hidden camera? This isn’t live, is it?’ I twist my head around trying to spot hidden cameras and tiny microphones dotted around the shop.
‘You couldn’t hide one of those huge TV cameras in here!’ Harry laughs. ‘Massive great things on wheels, aren’t they?’
Another customer, a woman this time, enters the shop. She’s wearing a bright green coat, black gloves and hat, and she carries a black patent handbag that matches her very pointy court shoes. ‘Would you mind again, Harry?’ George asks, nodding in her direction.
Harry sighs. ‘Anyone would think I worked here!’
‘I’d employ you if I could,’ George says, grinning at him. ‘I wouldn’t be able to pay you as much as that music company you supposedly work for. But then you wouldn’t need the sharp suit, so you’d save money there, I suppose.’ He winks at me.
Harry, laughing, goes over to assist the woman.
Young George sits down next to me. ‘It’s happened again, hasn’t it?’ he whispers, not looking directly at me.
‘What has?’ I ask, turning towards him. I still can’t get over how young he looks. This George is actually quite handsome.
‘You got hit by the car, didn’t you? I didn’t think it would happen so soon.’
‘What are you talking about? You didn’t think
what
would happen?’
‘What year are we in?’ George asks, turning to face me.
‘2013,’ I reply with confidence. ‘I didn’t get hit so badly I can’t remember that!’
George nods knowingly. ‘When I tell you something in a moment, Jo-Jo, I want you to keep very calm. You mustn’t shriek or scream or draw attention to yourself.’
‘What are you talking about, why would I do that?’
‘Remember, Jo-Jo, you must keep calm.’
‘And Carry On, Drink Tea, Eat Chocolate or something else hilarious they haven’t thought of yet to put on a tea towel or a mug?’ I ask, rolling my eyes.
George shakes his head, clearly not understanding my attempt at a joke. ‘No, just keep very calm.’ He takes a deep breath. ‘Jo-Jo, you’re not in 2013 any more.’
I want to laugh. George might as well have said: ‘Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas any