THE 33 KEYS: Key 2 - ANSWER THE CALL "Listen for that Perfect Beat"

CHAPTER 53: I AM READY

Hazel-the-Rubrum wakes me up at exactly six o'clock on Sunday morning.

"Happy birthday, Mary!" she screams as I yank the door open. "This is for you."

I look down at her hands. There is a blue voucher with large words at the top marked Cave Spa.

"What's this?" I ask.

"It's your birthday gift." She scrunches her face. "A spa day for my favourite girl."

I read the words in a daze. The last time someone dropped a piece of paper in my hand it was that red eviction notice. I open the cupboard for the only outfit left – black jeans and a jacket – and stick my hand into the pocket. Thank goodness! How'd it look if I got it wrong on my birthday too of all days? I slip the voucher in and step back for Hazel to enter.

"They close at six," she says hurriedly. "So hurry up and get dressed."

"For what? It's too damn early. They're probably not even open yet."

"To catch the eight o'clock bus, that's why. Plus, I've got something planned for nine tonight."

"You didn't have to."

"Stop fussing, Mary. I wanted to."

"But where'd you get the money from so soon to pay for this?"

"Come now, Mary. You already know the answer to that."

"Let me guess. An angel, right?"

"Glad to know we're finally on the same page."

"Not just about that either."

"What? The great Mary Pethiel and I on the same page again? Now this I've got to hear."

"Stop it!" I look away. "It's just, I've been thinking about what you said; really thinking."

"What's that?"

"When twenty-two equals zero, let zero equal one."

"Oh, that? So you're ready to do it, then?"

"Start over?" I look back at her. "Yes, I'm ready."

Hazel leans in to hug me and for the first time sees the wall of glory. She barges in then brushes her hand over it to make sure it's not a mirage.

"Mary, what the hell!" She turns to me horrified. "Matron's not going to like this one bit."

"Stop fussing, Hazel." I hit her back with her own words. "It's my birthday, remember?"

"Birthday or no birthday, Matron's not going to like this."

"The Matron and I will just have to do a reset on our relationship from today onwards."

"But why? What could possess you to do such a crazy thing?"

"You told me to reset. Start over. So I'm going to be different from now on. I'm going to become Mary-the-Bold."

"Mary Pethiel, this is definitely not what I meant and you know it."

"Relax! She won't see it."

"For how long? In case you forgot, the next inspection is in five days."

"Even when she sees it, so what? It won't matter to me then."

Her eyes are about to pop out of their sockets.

"Won't matter to you? Now I know you're crazy."

"Forget about it, Hazel," I say with a hint of warmth. "Let's talk about your plans for tonight."

"Oh no, you don't. This is the first time I'm ever getting to treat you right. Don't spoil it."

"At least tell me why you're not coming with me. Not enough money?"

"That's not it."

Of course, that's not it! You've got that five thousand to play with now.

I'm not sure whether or not she's trying to rummage through my thoughts but Hazel pauses to study my face before continuing with what she doesn't know will be her final words to me.

"How many times have we tried and failed?" she says. "I just figured that maybe if I let you go alone – especially on your birthday – you'd finally get to enjoy the water."

"But Hazel, that doesn't make any sense," I inform her. "You're not the reason those old buses keep breaking down."

"That's beside the point," she says. "Some trips we all have to take alone."

The perfect goodbye words to leave me with. Better than anything I've ever read. And sadly, my Hazel will never know it.