The Double

by Susan Gregersen

“We need to do a palm scan, thumbprint, and retinal scan,” the woman said. She waved Kay to come around the end of the desk. She showed Kay how to lay her hand on the screen, then had her look into the a machine for the retinal scan. Last, she had Kay press her thumb firmly on a pad connected to the computer.

  She punched a few keys on the computer, then looked up and said, “Okay, you’re good to go. Have a nice day!”

  Kay followed the agents past the desk and into a warm, bright hallway. Elegant paintings adorned the walls, and potted plants were clustered around a cushioned bench under a window. They passed a lounge area with a few people sitting in it, some who seemed familiar to Kay but she didn’t have time to study them and figure out who they were.

  “Holy crap!” Kay said, suddenly coming to a standstill in shock. The agents stepped back and stood on either side of her, alarmed.

  “What? What is it?” they asked. They held her elbows while she stood there, hyperventilating.

  “That’s…” she squeaked. “That’s… the Oval office!”

  “Yes it is,” Agent Smith affirmed.

  “We’re in the White House?” Kay asked incredulously.

  “Yes. You need to meet the President and First Lady before you get started on your training.

  Kay struggled to breathe again. “The President? And First Lady?” she croaked. Her head felt light.

  “Do you need a minute? You know, they’re really nice people. Just pretend they’re… new neighbors or something,” Agent Smith reassured her.

  Kay shot him a look. “None of my neighbors come even close to being like the president and First Lady! Trust me!” As a hasty afterthought she added in their defense, “But they are good people.”

  The door abruptly opened and three men in suits stepped out. Two of them walked away down the hall, and the third one ushered Kay and the Agents into the Oval Office.

  Seated behind the most famous desk in the world was the president of the largest free nation in the world. President Henry Jackson rose from the chair and walked around the desk. His wife, First Lady Madeline Jackson, stood from her chair to the side and walked over to her husband.

  Holding his hand out, the president said, “Hello, Kay. I suppose you know who I am.”

  Kay almost choked. ‘Oh, my lord! He knows my name!” she thought. ‘Well, of course he does, you dummy. Now shake his hand!’ She reached for his hand, smiled, and said, “Yes, Mr. President. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  ‘Wow, I can’t believe it! I actually spoke without tripping over my tongue’ Kay crowed to herself inside her head.

  The President introduced her to his wife, then turned to the two agents. “Fred! Jack! How are you doing? Is this gal keeping you rogues in line?”

  Kay heard the names and filed them away in her mind for future reference, then was drawn away by the first lady.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Madeline said. “You seem so young, and certainly prettier, than I am, but the make-up people are amazing.”

  Now Kay felt tongue-tied. She let the First Lady lead her to the comfortable chairs to the side of the President’s desk and they sat, partially facing each other. Madeline’s small-talk soon put her at ease and she found herself answering comfortably. Agent Smith was right, she thought. They’re just people; the sort you’d like to have for neighbors.

  “So, you have six children? I think that’s lovely. I’d like to see pictures of them some time,” Madeline smiled. “We wanted at least three, but we just ended up with two.”

  “Henry junior and Jennifer. I’ve seen their pictures,” Kay said. “They look like kids anyone would be proud of.”

  “Yes, they’re good kids. Good to us, too,” she said. She leaned forward. “I’d like to think I can trust you, since you’ll be posing as me. I’ll share a secret with you. We’re going to be grandparents! Henry junior’s wife is expecting. I’m so excited!”

  “Oh! That’s wonderful!” Kay said. “Congratulations!”

  “I can hardly believe it. We’re not telling the press for a couple more weeks to give the kids a bit of privacy,” she said. Then she was off on another subject.

  A staff member rolled in a cart with coffee, tea, and an assortment of cookies and little cakes. Kay allowed herself to be served a cup of tea, and she selected two cookies. She noticed Madeline watching her, and wondered about that.

  “Don’t be self-conscious. This is a two-way street. You’re supposed to imitate me, but,” Madeline said in a reassuring voice, “I like to watch my doubles and imitate them as well. It makes it doubly-likely no one will catch on.”

  “Oh! That makes sense. How thoughtful of you to think of that,” Kay said. She was impressed that someone as important as the First Lady wouldn’t just assume everyone would do as she did without thought to making it easier for others. She liked Madeline all the more.

  After a while Agents Smith and Jones stood and cleared their throat. “Ready to move on?” they asked Kay.

  Kay nodded, brushed the crumbs off her fingers, and stood. She turned back and offered her hand to Madeline. “Nice to meet you! Thanks for tea.”

  “You’re welcome,” Madeline said. “I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”

  The President shook her hand again too, then they left the Oval Office. Kay didn’t even notice the route they took when they left, but after what seemed like miles of walking they went through a door into the sunshine. They crossed a courtyard and went down an alley, then into another building.

  The room they entered looked almost like a theater, without seating for an audience. There were different “sets” lined up along one side. Some were arranged to look like various dinner situations, others like cocktail parties. Kay figured these were for practicing for real social engagements. She wondered if she’d have to pretend to know what it was like to be expecting a grandchild, after the public was told.

  A tall, skinny woman with gray hair and spectacles walked toward them. Her glasses were so classic and old-fashioned that they could only be described as spectacles, and they suited her wonderfully. She immediately made Kay think of a beloved school-teacher she’d had in grade school, and she felt warm.

  “Kay, this is Mrs. Lorraine Hodgekins. Lorraine, Kay.” Agent Smith handled the introduction. He and Agent Jones stepped back and sat near the door. They both began digging through the newspapers and magazines on a table in front of them, so Kay figured she was going to be here for a while.

  Then she figured the newspapers and magazines had been there a while when she heard Agent Jones say to Agent Smith, “First one to find something newer than 2009, wins!”

  Agent Smith snorted. “Last time you won, you offered me a dollar-burger from the value menu at McDonald’s!”

  “It was good, though, admit it!” Agent Jones said, defending himself. “Okay, this time we’ll make it two burgers.”

  Lorraine smiled as she and Kay watched them for a moment, then she took Kay’s arm and led her to a small booth. A video screen was at one end, and two comfortable chairs faced it. The cubicle-like walls that surrounded them shut out the sounds from around the rest of the room and kept her focused.

  “We start with videos of our original. I’ll freeze it at times and we’ll discuss features of her movements, her facial expressions, and details about how she talks. Then we’ll go up on the runway and practice,” she said, indicating the stage-like carpeted walkway next to a wall covered with a video screen.

  “What about my voice?” Kay asked. “I don’t think my voice sounds much like the First Lady.”

  “Actually, my dear, I think it is quite similar,” Lorraine assured her. “It’s really not all that important anyway. Surprisingly, most people don’t notice unless there’s something pronounced about a person’s voice. They’re more likely to pick out little nuances like body language and facial expressions. Especially members of the press.” She said ‘press’ with a sour curl to her lips. Kay smiled.

  For the next hour they watched vid
eos that showed the First Lady at several events. Lorraine pointed out things about the way Madeline walked, how she held or moved her arms when talking and when listening, and certain tilts of the head or timing of smiles.

  ‘I’ll never be able to pass myself off as this woman!’ Kay thought to herself. She frowned and leaned closer to the screen.

  “See, that frown on your face as you leaned in to the TV, that’s exactly what Madeline does when she’s concentrating! I didn’t see you doing that when we first started,” Lorraine pointed out. “You’re already assimilating some of Madeline’s body language.”

  “So, should I watch these tapes before each time I go out as her?” Kay asked.

  “Actually, yes. Some of it anyway. It’s a good refresher.” Lorraine stood. “Let’s go to the runway now.”

  Lorraine had Kay stand at one end of it and the screen lit up with a video of people talking and sipping at drinks. “Okay, watch. Here comes Madeline with the President. See how they touch people lightly on the elbow as they talk to them? They’re taught that. It’s not a natural behavior for most people.”

  Kay watched. Her arm twitched as she imagined herself as Madeline; as being inside Madeline, looking out of her eyes. Lorraine pointed toward their feet and told her to watch how they walked. “I don’t see anything. What am I looking for?” asked Kay.

  “Very good. There’s nothing remarkable about how most people walk. Just let your feet and legs carry you where you need to go. The majority of body language with a personal stamp happens above the waist,” Lorraine explained.

  Back and forth Kay walked on the platform, so absorbed in the life-size video playing alongside her on the wall that she actually turned in toward some people and reached to lightly touch their elbow. All sense of self-conscious went away. She was focused on the world in the video.

  Lorraine wandered over by Agents Smith and Jones, who had laid down their magazines and were watching Kay. “This is amazing!” Lorraine commented. “She’s really getting the hang of this.”

  “I think she missed her calling. She should have been an actress,” Agent Smith said.

  “There’s more to acting than imitating. Let’s see how she does when she has to think for herself,” said Agent Jones. He rose and walked over to the stage.

  “Oh, Mrs. Jackson, it’s nice to see you tonight. How are the children?” Agent Jones spoke to Kay in a droll tone of voice, then raised in imaginary glass to his mouth as he looked into her eyes.

  Kay stuttered. “I- I- um, I-, uh, it’s nice to see you too. The children… Hey, this isn’t fair!” He didn’t have the sunglasses on and she was flustered at seeing his eyes, and she couldn’t process the question.

  “The children are always well, or doing fine, or busier than ever, or anything vague and positive. But we’re not to that part of the coaching yet,” said Lorraine. She swatted at Agent Jones. “Back to your chair!”

  He pretended to cringe as he turned to leave, and ran with a yelp when he saw the daggers coming from Kay’s eyes. He fell into his chair laughing.

  “Boys!” said Lorraine, rolling her eyes. “Come on, let’s stop for lunch. It’ll still be lesson time, since I’ll be telling you what Madeline likes to eat, and how she eats it. Fortunately, she is known for constantly varying what she eats. She doesn’t seem to have favorites. She likes everything.”

  “Ahhhh, sometimes she almost seems like a soul twin! I like just about everything too, and I hate having the same thing all the time,” sighed Kay.

  “And she sure can eat!” added Agent Jones, earning himself another look from Kay. The four of them went out the door together.

  Over the next few days Kay was kept busy watching more videos, practicing walking, sitting, and talking, and reading through lists and descriptions of just about everything related to the First Lady and who she was as a person.

  She was coached repeatedly about Madeline’s childhood and life, and given Madeline’s memoirs to read, which had yet to be published, but had been written with the help of a ghost writer. Publishing would come after they left the White House, in either three or seven years, depending whether Henry Jackson was re-elected.

  One day they took her to a room with mats on the floor. A burly man in a black sweat suit stood at one end as though he was about to perform a ritual.

  “This is Igor,” Agent Smith said, indicating the man. “He’ll teach you some basic defense and escape maneuvers.”

  “Defense and escape? No no no no no, what are you getting me in to?” Kay asked, her mouth suddenly dry. “I thought this was all safe and everything. Why would I need to know defense and escape?”

  “Sometimes fans of the president or first lady are jostled or abused inadvertently, and sometimes they’re not exactly fans, especially about unpopular policies,” explained Agent Smith.

  “And then there’s the media,” offered Agent Jones. A look from Agent Smith silenced him.

  “Do I have to do this? I’ve watched my kids do Tae Kwon Do for the last six years. Plus, I’ve been breaking up their fights for something like 15 years. Does that count?” Kay asked.

  They shook their heads and pushed her to the center of the mat. Igor was a good teacher and she soon relaxed. He taught her some joint locks and ways of escaping from them if someone did them to her. Most of what he taught her was various escape methods. Apparently she wasn’t to be the aggressor, just to get out of the situation.

  Agent Smith and Agent Jones reassured her that they had no intention of leaving her unprotected or letting anything happen to her, but that sometimes crowds had a way of separating them. She needed to know how to manage a situation if one arose.

  Finally, she was made up as the First Lady and taken to have lunch with the woman herself. Kay knew instinctively that they were back in the White House when they emerged onto the red carpet once more.

  They walked into a small dining room where three people were already seated. One of them was Madeline, wearing the same dress and hairstyle as Kay. The other two were identical males. Two President Henry Jacksons stood and gave her a slight bow, a small smile, and held out their hands.

  Kay stepped forward and shook hands with both. She looked in amazement from one to the other. They looked back with identical looks of amusement. ‘Wow! Good training!’ Kay thought, impressed.

  Madeline slipped her arm through Kay’s elbow and walked with her to a mirror above a tall vase of flowers. “Look” she urged.

  Staring into the mirror Kay didn’t think either reflection was herself. When she tilted her head, it was very strange to see that head in the mirror do the same, because she couldn’t feel herself inside of it.

  “I wish I could be made up as you so I could know what it feels like,” Madeline said wistfully. “I feel a connection with you. I know you’ll do me justice, taking my place.”

  Kay no longer thought about it as just a cop-out for rich and famous people, to have a double. She’d seen the First Lady’s social calendar, and she was definitely over-booked. She never knew they ran the First Lady so ragged. She wondered what her first “event” would be. She already knew which ones she would have picked off the calendar if it had been up to her.

  She also knew which ones she hoped she didn’t have to go to. But it wouldn’t be up to her. She had jokingly asked about it.

  “If you get to be close to Madeline, you might find yourselves discussing it, but in the meanwhile, you’re not to bring it up with her,” Agent Smith had cautioned her.

  The two sets of ‘twins’ and their secret service agents were seated at the tables. Waiters brought in food, and everyone ate in silence. Kay kept sneaking peeks at the two presidents. They sat on the opposite side of the table, and Kay had lost track of which one was the real one, if she’d even known in the first place.

  It was possible that the first one that had walked toward her and took her hand was the double. It may have been planned that way.

  They weren’t eating in unison or trying to parro
t each other. In fact, at the moment they were having a conversation with each other. She saw Madeline watching them with idle interest and leaned toward her and said, “That’s a new twist on talking to yourself, isn’t it?”

  Madeline laughed. “It is! And they’re so good that right now, I’m not even certain which one is my husband!”

  The door opened and an aide walked toward their table. “Mr. President?” he said, holding a clipboard.

  Both heads turned and looked at him. “Yes?” they said as one.

  “Quit that! You know I hate it when you do that!” he said. “You’re giving me an ulcer.”

  “Okay, okay. What do you have, Gerry?” one of the ‘presidents’ said, getting serious. The aide handed him the sheet of paper from the clipboard. The president studied it, then said gravely, “I’ll take care of it right away. Excuse me, please.”