NINE TIME MACHINES: Do you want to undo your entire life on planet earth?

CHAPTER 76

Ruby wakes me up the next morning with loud splashes. But she's not trying to kill herself this time. It's almost as if she keeps diving into a pool. I stare at her elongated body and rounded mouth with its shiny black lips. Her eyes have two red rings around them to match the glow in her body. And her large fins keep in step with the rhythm of the red glow, flicking on and off like someone playing with a light switch. It's almost like having a desktop Christmas tree to get me into the spirit of things. So now I have two pieces of inspiration; Ruby on my left and the copper wall on my front and right side. Do you think that's going to be enough to yank me back from the brink of non-existence? I'll give you until the end of this week to get back to me.

Miss Nosy is amused to see me back in the same suit again today. I float past her, Friday's five hundred dollars pulling me towards the hallway and away from where I prefer my feet to take me. When I get to the maids' quarters, the first thing I do is pull out my tall black socks. My confidence level zooms past a hundred after I put it on. Now I can walk around the place feeling like a giant. My skin is well hidden and my face is smoother than a baby's bottom. I dip into my pocket for the list. It's basically an architect's map of the entire building that shows three hallways, and there are numbers to identify each room. Below the diagram are the names of all the office holders. I start right next door and work my way up to Tessa's hallway. Hers is the last door I decide to tackle before lunch.

As usual, she's on the phone. She waves for me to start cleaning. I hustle to get through with the task so I can escape while she's still engrossed in conversation. But Tessa clearly has other plans. She hangs up abruptly, just as I'm halfway through the door.

"Mary, there was a problem with your next of kin."