CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

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Jonny went to greet his mum, but when he got to the kitchen J2 had disappeared.

‘You look puzzled,’ said his mum. ‘Everything all right? Are you surprised that I managed to get that window fixed so quickly? It was expensive, by the way. How on earth did you break it? Really, Jonny, I expect better from you.’

She carried on lecturing him for a bit longer, but he hardly heard her. He was far too excited about J2’s arrival. Just when he’d thought sibling swapping would never work and could never work, they’d sent him J2. Perfect! Now, where had he got to? Eventually, Jonny found him upstairs.

‘Why did you run off?’ he asked.

‘Your mum can’t see me,’ said J2.

‘Yes she can. She’s got really good eyesight,’ said Jonny.

‘I mean, we can’t let her see me,’ said J2. ‘Not if we’re going to make the most of how similar we look.’

‘Oh, I see …’ said Jonny. ‘You mean make the most of the whole lookie-likie thing? Trick people? Who’s who? You’re me and I’m you but no one else realises. That kind of thing …’

J2 nodded.

‘Jonny!’ his mum called up the stairs. ‘Can you run round to Charlie’s shop and get some more milk?’

‘I’ll go,’ J2 whispered. ‘It will be a chance to see if other people think I’m you.’

Jonny felt a shiver of excitement. ‘OK, let’s try it!’ he said, giving him directions. ‘The whole mission should take no more than five minutes. Good luck!’

Jonny waited nervously while J2 headed round to the shop. He watched the clock. Five minutes became six.

It’s taking too long. Something’s gone wrong. Something’s up, he thought. Please say Charlie hasn’t guessed that J2 isn’t me. What if he has? What if he knows J2 is trying to trick him and he’s cross, so he’s put him in the fizzy-drink fridge? But wait! Charlie would never do that, he’s too nice. Or maybe he’s called in Mrs Algernon to quiz J2 with her scary, serious face and those eyes … Maybe Fat Stanley is sitting on J2’s chest, pinning him to the floor, so he can’t escape while he’s being questioned. Maybe …

Then suddenly, silently, J2 appeared in his room, holding up the milk like a trophy!

‘You did it!’ shouted Jonny. ‘Did Charlie guess?’

‘No! He didn’t have a clue that I’m not you! We even had a chat about school. He seriously thought I was you.’

‘Amazing!’ said Jonny. He dashed downstairs to deliver the milk, and when he returned to his room, J2 was sitting at his desk, making notes and drawing graphs.

‘Think of the potential, Jonny,’ said J2. ‘If I can pass for you, we can share everything. One of us can go to school while the other one stays home. If you don’t like what’s for dinner but I do, I can eat it instead. We can take it in turns to unload the dishwasher. Think of that! Half the chores! And no one will ever know!’

Jonny nodded, excited but slightly dazed.

‘It’s going to be amazing!’ J2 continued. ‘Now – fancy a day off school tomorrow? Do you? Well, allow me to take your place!’