Flip Side: Bubble Me Double Me

"I know," the other me said, "Mum will be looking for you soon."

"Come on then!"

I put the hoop back into the suitcase and went to the door, but my other me took it out again.

"You'll need this," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Copies don't usually last very long, remember?"

"That's what Mysto said about the rabbits," I said.

"He was right."

We got back to my room safely and the other me inspected the wardrobe.

"A bit cramped," he said, "But it'll do."

Mum knocked on the door.

"Into bed," she said, "Do your teeth and don't stay up late reading."

"Yes, Mum," I and me said together. It sounded funny.

Mum opened the door and looked in curiously.

"What's wrong with your voice?" she said.

"Nothing," I said.

She closed the door and went back down the hall.

That was close!" I said, looking round for my other me. There was no sign of him. I checked the wardrobe. Nothing there either.

"OK," I said, "Where are you?"

No answer. My room was empty.

So that was how it worked. Whatever passed through the hoop made a copy, but the copy didn't last much longer than an hour. Smaller things probably lasted a bit longer. Bigger things, like people, lasted a shorter time. Amazing!

I turned the hoop over in my hands and wondered at the possibilities . . . and then I thought of Brooks.

There was one thing I wanted to do, above everything