7/31/2019 Project Doppelganger

1/3

PROJECT DOPPELGANGER

By David Lang

The alarm was going off. It was seven thirty, and I

still had to hand in my project! I searched all over the

room, saying, doppelganger, doppelganger, to myself over

and over again.

Im over here, human! he groaned (he considered it

degrading to call me a human). Reaching under the pile of

coats under the empty coat hangers in my empty closet, I

found him. That small, blue teddy bear.

If you dont turn me in, your planet will suffer! he

said ominously.

Dont you think I know that? I said matter-of-

factly. Ms. Glade will fail me if I dont turn you in. I

already know that!

Going to school isnt easy with a teddy bear

criticizing you from your backpack. Its even harder if no

ones supposed to know about it. To everyone else, Im just

supposed to be a regular, teenage guy. Theyre not supposed

to know theres an alien with me.

But at last, all twenty of us made it to class. Ms.

Glade was sitting perfectly still at her desk when we all

arrived. Her bright, green hair (so bright it was almost

7/31/2019 Project Doppelganger

2/3

white) glistened in the sunlight, only to contrast her

blank expression. She was like a statue until all of us

were seated, then suddenly,

Good morning, class!

The enthusiastic Ms. Glade we all knew and

loved?...was back. She didnt go through our names. She

knew everyone was here.

She could tell.

Now then, she said, clapping her hands. Who here

has finished their doppelgangers?

Sighing with relief, I raised my hand. The project was

complete. My assistance with the transformation was

complete. Jaaju was now the splitting image of the teddy

bear I had when I was four. He could hide here in our

neighborhood and never, ever be found (as long as he didnt

talk). He could be a spy, just like the others. He could

keep giving reports about how earth wasnt a threat to

their planet. I finished the project. I was on time. I

hoped we were all on time. If so, Ms. Glade could convince

the principle to hold off the invasion. She could convince

him that our planet didnt pose a threat to the overall

well being of the milky way. She could convince him that-

Ms. Glade, said Bill, raising his hand. II didnt

finish. Im so sorry!

7/31/2019 Project Doppelganger

3/3