change the code

Vanessa comes to see Zack two days later. She is taller than he remembers but that is probably because he is still bed-bound.

You look like shit, Vanessa says. What do you want?

Nice to see you too, Vanessa, Zack says. I need some help. My mind is stuck and I need to change the code.

Vanessa looks at him and blinks. What are you talking about?

I need help thinking differently. I think someone tried to kill me, and I think someone is trying to finish the job. But I can't work out why.

Vanessa sits down beside Zack and takes a packet of cigarettes out of her handbag (which looks like it was made from a squashed puppy dog).

You can't smoke in here, Zack says.

Can't I? Vanessa says, sparking the cigarette and blowing the smoke at the alarm above the bed. A few seconds later, an alarm sounds and water begins to spray both Zack and Vanessa, extinguishing the cigarette and making Zack swear.

What the... he begins as the door is flung open and a rather cross nurse appears in the doorway.

ostracise the ostrich

Vanessa smiles at the nurse and tells her that everything is fine. The nurse smiles back and says, "of course it is." She closes the door.

Zack looks confused. What just happened? he asks.

Vanessa shrugs, I thought I would reset the code by doing something unexpected.

Zack shakes himself, like a wet dog. Water sprays up the wall.

Do you feel like something has changed?

Zack shakes his head.

Perhaps I need to do something even more unexpected, Vanessa says. She clicks her fingers, and the door opens again. Instead of the angry-looking nurse, Zack sees what looks like a rather confused ostrich.

What the actual... Zack begins.

Just ignore it, Vanessa says.

It's rather hard.

Just pretend it is the elephant in the room, Vanessa says, pointing to the pink elephant standing in the corner of the room that Zack hadn't seen before.

Ignore the ostrich, ostracise the ostrich.

Zack closes his eyes, and when he opens them, he is back in his office and Katy Jumbles is sitting in front of him.

Don't use your pen! he shouts.

...