Alexander emailed a family friend (Julia in Woodland) who didn't know he was home, hoping for a video conference, but failing that, sending her a picture telling her that he was transferred, and showing a picture of him with his "new companion".

We disguised the living space and me as much as possible (the availability of the apt., where we don't normally hang out, and my starting to grow a beard, helped immensely) and pulled off the prank until he called her on the phone and finally spilled the beans. It was fun.