My Son is 19 Years Older Than Me

By M. Hermassi

This science-fiction novel for adults tells the story of a man who undergoes a memory transfer under conditions that science isn't yet able to explain. When André wakes up on a flight from Australia to Canada with someone else's identity, he finds himself in a very surprising and embarrassing situation. How will he manage to cope in the short and long term? A most unusual journey awaits him as soon as his plane lands. Sometimes the curtain between fiction and reality lifts up. Such a transfer may one day be possible thanks to progress made by science.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Apr 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393217077

Book preview

Chapter One

A soft, comforting voice of a flight attendant with a Quebecois accent announces the impending landing of flight 718-E10 into Montreal airport from Australia.

Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts. We’ll be landing in a few minutes. The outside temperature is 18 degrees Celsius. The captain wishes you a pleasant stay and hopes you had a comfortable flight.

A few clicks of seat belt metal followed by silence signal that the message has been understood. Passengers peer through the plane windows to watch life outside. The man in seat no. 14D is still sleeping, unaware of all the preparations being made for landing. His seat neighbor whispers to him discreetly that he needs to buckle up. As he awakens from his deep sleep, the man opens his eyes, looks around him, but makes no gesture to do up his seat belt.

Sir, you need to buckle up.

There’s still no reaction. The passenger appears to be only semi-conscious. The flight attendant notices his condition and delicately intervenes.

Did you sleep well, sir? Please do up your seat belt. We’ll be landing in a few minutes.

With movements that are automatic and slow, the young man puts on his seat belt. He then looks around discreetly. No one notices the astonishment on his face, undoubtedly because they’re all busy preparing for their arrival at the airport. He puts his hand into his jacket pocket and slowly pulls out a Canadian passport and luggage tags. With trembling hands, he opens it up to the first page and reads ‘André Brocard, born on April 12, 1984 in Brisbane, Australia.’ There’s a photo of a rather handsome, blond young man with clear eyes and medium-length hair. He rereads this identity several times, runs his hand through his hair, and thinks of only one thing. He wants to be able to look at himself in a mirror. The bump of the plane hitting the tarmac causes him to jump and confirms that this strange story is not a dream and is still going on. How will he manage to get through the next few minutes and hours? And what about after that? He knows who he really is, but the present situation doesn’t match his past, and only he knows that for the moment. It’s confusing for him.

The plane comes to a stop and the commotion of passengers preparing to leave the plane starts. An adventure into the unknown thus begins for André. How should he do this? He suddenly remembers something and quickly opens his passport again to read ‘marital status: Married.’ As he stands there lost in thought, his seat neighbor asks him to let her out.

Excuse me, sir. We’ve arrived!

Oh, yes. Sorry!

"Don’t forget your briefcase in the overhead compartment.

My briefcase, yes! Thank you.

Without giving it much thought, he reaches up, pulls it out and notices it has a number-combination lock.

He wonders, "What if customs asks me to open it? How will I know the number code?"

By following the other passengers, André arrives at the baggage claim area and reminds himself to look for bags with tags containing the same numbers as the ones he found in his pocket. As the luggage arrives, travelers rush toward the belt to claim theirs. André watches nervously. A suitcase and a bag bearing the same tag numbers arrive and André picks them up off the belt. He’s relieved to find that they don’t have any combination locks attached to them. He searches his pockets and pulls out a bunch of keys. He looks through them to find the two that correspond to each lock, in case the customs official wishes to check his bags.

So far, things seem to be going smoothly but it’s nothing compared to what he expected.

If my wife has come to pick me up, how will I recognize her? My God! What if I have children too?

André gives in to his panic and his anxiety shows. The customs officer, who is trained to read faces and their expressions, notes André’s condition.

Hello sir. Do you have anything to declare?

Not that I’m aware of.

Please open up your suitcase.

Of course!

Having easily found the key corresponding to the small lock, he opens it up. The customs officer moves his experienced hands beneath the layers of clothing, feels and turns over a few articles, all under the worried eyes of André who’s seeing the contents of this suitcase for the first time. Having found nothing suspicious, the officer stamps André’s passport and lets him go though, much to André’s relief.

Are you OK, sir?

Yes, yes. I’m just a bit tired from the flight and jetlag.

Of course. Australia isn’t next door after all!

Australia! So that’s where I’ve just come from!

He glances at the arrivals board and sees that indeed flight 718-E10 has just arrived from Australia. He remembers he was going to look for a mirror. As he has too much luggage to fit comfortably in the airport washroom, he satisfies his curiosity by looking at his reflection in a glass panel. As he stares, he loses track of time somewhat. He peers at his face, his current face, for the first time. His surprise gives way to astonishment, then to humor.

Hmm, not bad. I’m actually quite young and handsome. Now, what’s next?

He decides to improvise and let himself be guided by his lucky star. Putting his luggage on a cart, he slowly walks toward the exit. Just then, the automatic doors open and a young woman comes toward him all out of breath.

André, my darling. I’m sorry I’m late. It took me ages to find a parking space. Oh honey! I’m so happy to see you again.

She wraps her arms around him and crushes his lips in a kiss, which leaves him in no doubt about her identity.

Me too, my dear, I missed you so much.

I’m sorry I couldn’t bring Bruno with me. He’s been talking nonstop about his darling Daddy’s return ever since yesterday.

Interesting. It looks like my family is growing. I wonder what my wife’s name is.

My dear, what are you thinking about? You look like you’re somewhere else!

No. I’m just tired. I’m jetlagged and drained of energy.

Of course, darling. Come with me. As soon as we get home, I’ll draw you a good, hot bath.

As he follows the young woman out to the parking lot, André’s brain is working at warp speed.

So, this pretty creature is my wife―or rather André’s wife―and I have a son called Bruno. I wonder how old he is. Another mystery to solve!

Although he’s not showing much enthusiasm at seeing his wife again, she doesn’t appear to be disappointed, and puts it down to his tiredness. Everything will resume its normal course once they’re home. The woman stops in front of a beautiful, large car and opens up the trunk. André lifts his luggage from the cart and puts it inside.

Darling, would you like to drive?

Not really, no. I’d prefer if you did.

During the drive, André discovers a landscape he’s never seen before but he shows no surprise on his face. Their conversation is brief due to the heavy traffic that’s taking up most of the woman’s concentration. As they approach the house, André feels anxious again. How’s he going to react? And how’s he going to answer the thousand and one questions that await him? How will he recognize the rest of his family and put a name to each face? He can’t think how yet, but knows he has to come up with a solution as soon as possible.

André sighs and then his face lights up. He’s just had an idea!

I could say I lost my memory! I’ll have to let my wife know as soon as possible. That will protect me for a while as I wait for a better solution. I’m sure she’ll understand if that’s the case and will support me. Too bad if it’s a lie. I’ll be able to justify it later if it turns out to be necessary.

The car slows down and enters a courtyard, then stops at the front steps of a house. Now’s the time to tell her, André says to himself.

"Here we are. We’re home, darling. You can take a nice long shower while I go and pick up Bruno from school. I’m sure he’s impatient to see his Daddy.

One moment, my dear. I have something to tell you.

Wait until we’re inside. You seem very worried. It’s nothing serious, I hope?

Good idea. Let’s go inside. You’re right.

The woman’s expression changes. The detached home is comfortably furnished and spacious. André stops and looks around him.

André, what’s wrong with you? You’re scaring me.

Do you have anything to drink?

Of course. Scotch as usual?

André lets himself sink into the couch, his gaze indistinct. The woman returns with two glasses in her hands and sits down next to André.

Darling, you didn’t even say hello to me properly. Didn’t you miss me?

My dear, something terrible has happened to me and I don’t know how to explain it.

She’s looking at the clock. Bruno must be impatient. I have to go. You can tell me when I get back.

Left alone, André takes the opportunity to become familiar with the interior of the house. He begins by looking at all the photos on the mantelpiece. There’s a wedding photo (theirs), a photo of a child (probably Bruno) and one of an elderly couple. Next step, the bedroom. There’s another photo on the couple’s nightstand.

I must at least learn the name of this pretty woman who’s supposed to be my wife.

There’s some writing on the back of the photo: ‘André and Jennifer, March 2004.’

So, my lovely wife is called Jennifer. However, I mustn’t forget I have amnesia!

André returns to the living room and drinks his whiskey in one gulp. Then he looks for the bottle and pours himself another glass. He remembers the water running in the tub. He stops in front of the mirror over the washbasin. This time his image is very clear.

Good gracious! It’s me! And yet it’s not me!

He gives himself a whistle of admiration and looks at his height and his well-built physique.

Wow! What a handsome man I am. Hmm...if was born in 1984, I’m ...what...only 26 years old!

As the bathtub is now full, André looks at himself in the mirror again but has nothing more to say. He looks and feels good. He climbs into the hot, refreshing water and continues to daydream as he admires every part of his body. Once he’s satisfied with his tour of inspection, he closes his eyes.

The sound of a key in the front door interrupts his thoughts and his heart leaps inside his ribcage.

My God! They’re back!

André, where are you?

Daddy?

I’m in the tub. I’ll be out in a few minutes.

Come on, darling. Daddy’s having a bath. He’ll be out soon. André, can I fetch you anything?

No, my dear, or rather yes, some clean clothes. I was so happy to get into the bath I forgot to collect the essentials.

Hello, my darling boy!

Hello, Daddy!

Bruno throws himself into André’s arms and kisses him hard.

I missed you, Daddy.

Me too, buddy.

And me, André? Did you miss me?

Of course!

In the suitcase there are some wrapped packages. André has no idea what they contain.

Help yourself and let your instinct guide you!

Bruno is the first to recognize his presents: a video game console and a selection of cassettes that go with it. For Jennifer, there are two packages: a larger one and a very small one. In the larger, there’s a beautiful, beige negligee set trimmed with lace and, in the smaller, a beautiful pair of ruby earrings. Jennifer is over the moon. They’re just what she wanted.

Sweetheart, you know what I like! Thank you.

She leaps into his arms and covers him with kisses.

Me too, Daddy! Thank you.

André’s also very happy but for other reasons. He has successfully passed his first obstacle.

Daddy, may I plug in my console and try it out?

Of course!

No sooner said than done, Bruno disappears into his bedroom. André and Jennifer look at each other for a moment in silence then Jennifer asks, Darling, you wanted to tell me something, I believe?

"Yes