$Pairs{$Person1} //= $Person1; $Pairs{$Person2} //= $Person2; $PairsOf{$Person1} //= ""; $PairsOf{$Person2} //= ""; $PairsOf{$Person1} = $PairsOf{$Person1} . " " . $Person2; $PairsOf{$Person2} = $PairsOf{$Person2} . " " . $Person1;