Author: Burgess Speed

He wasn’t sure when it had happened. It could have been the night before while everyone was sleeping.

It could have been that morning when no one was looking.

Or maybe it was accomplished by imperceptible means right under the noses of everyone.

There was one thing, however, of which the boy was certain—his father had been replaced.

Oh, he looked the same all right, and sounded the same. But the boy knew it wasn’t him.

All day he waited for something terrible to happen. For some awful revelation of alien or demonic identity.

But nothing did.

The next day, his mother was replaced.

The day after, his entire family.

Following that, everyone he knew was replaced.

He tried not to let on that he noticed.

Then, one morning, he awoke to discover that everyone was exactly who they were supposed to be.