It was the day business closed for Christmas when they made Evelyn play the game. William was six and the funeral home full of people; undertakers and local clergy. The office was cosy, with glasses on every surface, and crumbs from the mince pies his mother had brought through straight from the oven. William was rolling on the floor, being tickled by his dad in the monkey mask. Everyone seemed happy. There was red and green tinsel woven around the mirror on the wall and a fake Christmas tree in the entrance hall with coloured lights.

‘Evelyn, you try!’ said the vicar of St Chads, his apple cheeks scarlet after a glass or two of sherry.

‘No, thanks!’ Evelyn smiled back, lifting her glass to him.

‘Come on, Mrs Lavery!’ said one of the undertakers. It was clear from the murmurs and laughs that everyone wanted her to.

‘All right then.’ Evelyn rolled her eyes. William was nervous for her. He noticed Howard sit down in the corner. His father and uncle left the room and returned quickly, one in the mask. Evelyn’s eyes flicked from one to the other. The unmasked face was deadpan, looking straight ahead.

Evelyn lifted her hands and rested her fingers in the indent of her temples. ‘If I could see both your faces, I’d be able to do it, no problem.’ There was a hint of panic in her eyes. The room was quiet.

The twins stood, motionless. William slid his hand into his mother’s.

‘Howard, can you help?’ asked an undertaker.

‘No!’ Evelyn snapped. ‘I don’t need it!’ She looked for a second longer. ‘I think Robert’s got the mask on.’ She tried to smile, tried to look as if she was enjoying it, but her set jaw, the buzz in the air around her, twisted William’s stomach.

The masked brother jumped onto a nearby chair, making monkey noises and gestures, then dropped down and started to chase her.

‘Paul, is it you?’ she screamed as she ran around the office. ‘Is it you?’ The monkey closed in on her and picked her up.

‘Is it you?’ she screamed, hitting him in the chest. ‘Tell me!’

‘Yes,’ said the masked face, gently putting her down. ‘It’s me.’ William’s dad took off the mask and laid it on the desk. People clapped and laughed as he folded Evelyn into a hug. Her face was so vividly red, William thought she looked ready to burst into flames.

When William passed Howard to get a chocolate from the big tin, Howard said softly, ‘Want to know the difference?’

It seemed momentous that Howard could tell when his mother couldn’t. William nodded.

‘Robert has a tiny blue vein in his temple, right here.’ Howard touched the dent in William’s head. ‘Tell your mum, but don’t tell her I told you.’

Later, his mother sobbed on the settee, being cuddled by his dad. ‘Evelyn, it’s OK.’