The harried receptionist pokes her head around the corner. Mr Firth? Dr Peters will see you now. Sorry for the wait.

Finally!

In the consulting room the doctor gestures to a chair.

What's up, Richard?

I need to find out how to have my mother declared unfit.

Why?

Because I need to put her in a nursing home.

That's a big step. Why is it necessary now?

She's eighty-seven, living on the other side of the country. She's getting more needy every day. All her friends have died so she depends on me for everything. She doesn't realize how busy I am or how far away I am. She has no sense of time anymore so I get calls around the clock whenever she wants something.

Have you discussed this with her?

I've tried to get her to consider a nursing home near me but she flatly refuses. She says she'll die in her own home like my dad did. And unfortunately, even if she is forgetful, she still manages there, more or less.

Do you have any siblings or relatives who could help?

None I can depend on. Since Marie and I divorced it’s just me. Now that I'm a senior partner at work I can't just drop everything every time she calls. Quitting my job isn't an option financially and besides I'd go nuts as just a caregiver.

Well, the problem you're describing is becoming more and more common. I've seen three other cases this week alone, some with parents in worse shape. I have to say though that if your mother is still fit to live alone you can't force her into a nursing home.

So basically I'm out of luck. My life will be like this till she dies.

Not necessarily. There is one option.

At this point I'll consider anything.

OK, think about the news stories you've seen about digital clones of movie stars. They're getting better and better to the point where they can fool lots of people. Basically they work like this: you know that when you use social media or videochats or emails you give the companies that provide them permission to keep records? Those are the food for the clones.

So they’re just sucking up someone’s life?

Crudely, yes. But they’re going farther. A number of the larger companies have been watching the problem of the increasing number of elderly and they've been working on devices to help take the load off their children.

You mean like a robot?

Nothing quite so sci-fi. The one I'm most familiar with is just a box like a TV set. The older generation is still most comfortable with that. The only control is a big green button. Every time your mother pushes it, she'll see you on the screen and she'll be able to talk with you, tell you things, ask questions, just interact. The software uses your social media and video chat footprints to craft responses that sound like you. They'll be spoken by a face that looks like yours and with your voice. This digital you will be available twenty-four seven.

But how will I know what the digital me has said or what my mother has said to it?

The system records everything. At your end, you have the same device. If you press your green button you'll be able to watch all of the previous conversations and monitor your mother's progress. In the meantime, if something urgent comes up in a conversation, the system will call for help from whoever is needed. A plumber, a nurse, a grocery store, or in the case of an emergency, you.

That sounds too good to be true. Still, at this point I'm at my wit's end.

Mr Firth? Hi, I'm Phil Innsbruck. I'm one of the project directors for the AlterEgo experiment. Can I assume you've read the materials we sent?

Yes, in detail, and I have some questions.

Fire away.

First, you should know that my relationship with my mother has never been an easy one. That's why I left home as soon as I could. I would have liked a better relationship but that wasn't in the cards. The upshot is that our conversations are usually just to the point because anything else ends in a fight. I’m not sure your system will change any of that. Also, I'm not sure I can afford this service.

Well Richard, we've looked at your file and it might just be that the combination of your two questions could give us a way to work together. We're researchers which means that we're always on the lookout for something new to experiment on. Participation in our experiments would only cost a nominal amount.

So what would that involve?

We've been looking at the material gleaned from your social media and at the video and audio we captured of your mother. Would it be fair to say that you're both strong-minded and fairly abrupt people?

That sounds about right.

Would it surprise you to know that your mother didn't always behave that way?

I don't buy it. I've never seen that side of her.

Well, among the recordings, which for the most part confirm your description of her, we also managed to find some short snippets between your mother and your father captured when they were together, just the two of them. Are you willing to watch them?

The clip comes to an end and there's a long silence.

You have to understand that I haven't seen any images of my father since he died five years ago and we rarely spoke after I left home. I knew he was a gentle man but I never saw how it worked with just the two of them together. She was a different woman with him...

OK, how about some images of you at work?

After the images fade there's another silence.

So? I told you I’m not touchy-feely.

Richard, I'm not here to judge you. I'm an engineer trying to make the best possible system to help you and your mother. We're not trying to make you into something you're not. But we have been working on a project we call PersonalityTweak. It takes you and adds a smidgen of some other traits. Some people need more firmness, some need to have a better sense of humour. In your case, we've created a version of you that includes just an added dash of your father. Would you like to see the result?

After the images finish, Richard takes a deep breath.

Mr Innsbruck, if you showed that to my mother she'd wonder who the hell she was talking to. That is just too sickly sweet for words!

All at once it would be too much, I agree. But one of the beautiful elements of PersonalityTweak is that we can dial different traits up and down. So your mother would start by seeing you just as you are but eventually she would be interacting with a mixture of you and your father, but with your face and voice. Don't you think that would provide her with some comfort? You saw her with your father. Remember, this doesn't change you, just your avatar.

You've given me a lot to think about. Let me go away and mull this over.

No problem. Just remember, we're here to help.

Richard pushes the green button on his device and his mother's face comes into view. The machine displays: Recording of March 19th. So three weeks ago.

His mother's face breaks into a smile.

Hi sweetie! I'm glad you're free. I wanted to tell you about what I just heard on the radio. The old mill is being taken down and they're going to build a new mall. Won't that be handy? I haven't been out much with my knees and all but at least we've been able to talk every day. I had some frozen pizza last night. Cheese and onion. Your father loves that. I told him it makes his breath bad but he can’t be stopped. There's a good show on the other TV tonight so I'll be able to tell you about it tomorrow. Oh, I see the neighbour's cat is out again. Horrible beast.

After a few minutes, the flood of words peters out and his mother lapses into silence. After a long pause the avatar's voice intones Tell me about your mother.

Like a windup toy his mother lurches back to life.

You know my mum and dad never had much to say to each other. They did what needed to be done and left things at that. Reminds me a bit of you and Marie. Except for when they played cards. They'd have friends over and it would be nonstop laughs. Mum was a good cook and there'd be food everywhere. They liked a drink too so the jokes got more and more wild. They let us kids stay up late. Those were some of my best memories. I still have some of their decks of cards. Here, let me go look. Here's one, with flowers on it. I wonder if they're all there. Let me check... Fifty-one, fifty-two... all there even after all these years! What was I talking about before?

His avatar's voice says softly You were telling me about your mum and dad and the good times you had with them. Maybe you can have a rest now.

After a while his mother's head nods and she drifts off.

Mr Firth? This is the nursing home. I'm sorry to call at this hour but your mother has had a spell and we're quite worried.

You do know I'm on the other side of the country, right? I can't get there before tomorrow by end of day, if that.

We're concerned that that might be too late. She is conscious. Do you want to talk to her by phone or video call?

No! We haven't spoken directly in a long time. She's used to the me behind the green button.

We could set that up so you could let the machine be there for her and you could watch.

Please.

His mother's wizened and drawn face comes into view. After a moment of confusion, a faint smile crosses her lips and she whispers Oh, good, it's you! I'm not feeling too good but maybe tomorrow will be better.

She lapses into silence. After a few minutes Richard’s avatar begins to intone a lullaby. Slowly, his mother's face relaxes and her breathing slows.

Richard jolts awake at the sound of a loud buzz from the machine. He checks the time. Ten hours since the last call. He presses the green button and his mother's grey face appears. She can’t speak but a flicker of recognition crosses her face. Richard’s avatar says cheerfully Hi mum, you had a good rest! His mother gazes at the screen for a long time then whispers I'm so glad you're here for me. You've been a good son.

After a long silence, her eyes close.

Richard presses the green button and his mother's face comes into view with the date below. Three years earlier. He is struck by how alive his mother seemed then. Alert and talkative. After listening for a bit, he scrolls forward, his heart clutching as he prepares for what is to come. Like a blur he catches snatches of conversation flash past: your father, cards, neighbour's cat. But inevitably the energy diminishes and he watches his mother fade. Finally, it is the last recording.

With a lump in his throat he plays it, forcing his hand away from the green button to absorb every moment with its dose of pain and nostalgia. Finally, the inevitable and his mother's eyes close.

Richard sits in silence for a long time staring at the aged face. Suddenly, his mother's eyes open and she speaks.

Tell me about your mother...