1As Haw prepared to leave, he started to feel more alive, knowing that he was finally able to laugh at himself, let go and move on.

2Haw laughed and announced, "It's ... Maze ... time!" Hem didn't laugh and he didn't respond.

3Haw picked up a small, sharp rock and wrote a serious thought on the wall for Hem to think about.

4As was his custom. Haw even drew a picture of cheese around it, hoping it would help Hem to smile, lighten up, and go after the New Cheese. But Hem didn't want to see it.

5It read:

6[If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct.]

7Then, Haw stuck his head out and peered anxiously into the Maze. He thought about how he'd gotten himself into this cheeseless situation.

8He had believed that there may not be any Cheese in the Maze, or he may not find it. Such fearful beliefs were immobilizing and killing him.

9Haw smiled. He knew Hem was wondering, "Who moved my cheese?" but Haw was wondering, "Why didn't I get up and move with the Cheese, sooner?"

10As he started out into the Maze, Haw looked back to where he had come from and felt its comfort. He could feel himself being drawn back into familiar territory—even though he hadn't found Cheese here for some time.

11Haw became more anxious and wondered if he really wanted to go out into the Maze. He wrote a saying on the wall ahead of him and stared at it for some time:

12[What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?]

13He thought about it.

14He knew sometimes some fear can be good.

15When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don't do something, it can prompt you into action. But it is not good when you are so afraid that it keeps you from doing anything.

16He looked to his right, to the part of the Maze where he had never been, and felt the fear.

17Then, he took a deep breath, turned right into the Maze, and jogged slowly, into the unknown.

18As he tried to find his way. Haw worried, at first, that he might have waited too long in Cheese Station C. He hadn't had any Cheese for so long that he was now weak. It took him longer and it was more painful than usual to get through the Maze.

19He decided that if he ever got the chance again, he would get out of his comfort zone and adapt to change sooner. It would make things easier.

20Then, Haw smiled a weak smile as he thought, "Better late than never."

21During the next several days, Haw found a little Cheese here and there, but nothing that lasted very long. He had hoped to find enough Cheese to take some back to Hem and encourage him to come out into the Maze.

22But Haw didn't feel confident enough yet. He had to admit he found it confusing in the Maze.

23Things seemed to have changed since the last time he was out here.

24Just when he thought he was getting ahead, he would get lost in the corridors.

25It seemed his progress was two steps forward and one step backward. It was a challenge, but he had to admit that being back in the Maze, hunting for Cheese, wasn't nearly as bad as he feared it might be.

26As time went on he began to wonder if it was realistic for him to expect to find New Cheese. He wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew.

27Then he laughed, realizing that he had nothing to chew on at that moment.

28Whenever he started to get discouraged, he reminded himself that what he was doing, as uncomfortable as it was at the moment, was in reality much better than staying in the Cheeseless situation. He was taking control, rather than simply letting things happen to him.

29Then he reminded himself, if Sniff and Scurry could move on, so could he!