Rosie filled up her watering can and stepped outside to give the flowers she planted in the windowsils and by the doors a cool drink. As she did this she was unaware that at the moment she was being watched. Again.

"This is so wrong." Husk said spying on her through his binoculars again. "But Val would never let me talk to her so I have to settle for this. Oh well, at least I only spy on her when she's outside and clothed."

"Who are you talking to?" Vaggie asked.

"Ahh!" Husk dropped his binoculars. "What's wrong with you?! Sneaking up on someone like that! You trying to kill me?!"

"You're one to talk, why are you spying on Rosie, you creep?"

"No reason. I'm just trying to figure out what she's doing. How she's getting more popular. Valentino would want to know."

"Uh-huh, sure." Vaggie said skeptically. "Then explain this?"

She held up some sheet music he had written which was title, Pretty Rosie.

"Give me that!" He snatched the paper from her. "What are you doing going through my stuff?!"

"I wasn't. Valentino told me to get you and because you lack any skills in organization, your room is a pigsty. You can't even put books on shelf properly and that's how that song fell on to my head."

"Well you shouldn't take things that don't belong to you."

"And you shouldn't have the hots for Val's rival. Do you know what he would do to you if he found out?"

"Which is why you better not say a word about this."

"I won't but you better not let him catch you spying on her again."

Husk grunted and then hid his song back in his room, under his mattress, and after that he went to see what Valentino wanted.

"Husk I have a job for you."

"I don't know Bigfoot so don't ask me to go looking for him in the woods or something." Husk said.

"Not that. A different job. One where you won't be around here as much."

"Okay I'm listening."

"Rosie has something that I have long coveted but was unable to get close to. A mirror that-"

"Aww another one? You have hundreds of mirrors in your dressing room and if I have to see you make out with your reflection one more time, I'm gonna throw up."

"Not that kind of mirror you idiot! It's magic! One of the most powerful, magic items in the world! It previously belonged to a weather witch, who would absorb negative emotions from those around her and store them in that mirror. Anyone who gazes into the mirror will be overcome by negative emotions."

"So that's why you want it."

"Exactly. This witch was Rosie's great aunt and she entrusted her with that mirror. Rosie keeps it will hidden and well protected. I've tried many times to obtain it on my own but she always knows when I'm near. Only those she trusts can locate it. That's where you come in."

"Me? What can I do?"

Valentino pulled a jar containing a powdery substance from his drawer. He opened the jar, took a handful of powder, and tossed it right on to Husk.

"Hey!" He coughed. "What the hell are you doing?"

Suddenly a red mist engulfed him and when it faded a middle-aged man stood in Husk's place. His hair was black with grey streaks, he had a mutton chop beard, a gruff exterior, and a muscular but not exactly buff physique.

"What did you do to me?" Husk said taking note of his appearance.

"Relax you only look like a human and as long as you don't make eye contact with Rosie for longer than five minutes, she won't see through you."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're going to apply to work for Rosie. Befriend her, earn her trust, then find and steal the mirror."

"Are you insane?! I'm not doing that! I haven't forgotten what she did to last spies you sent over there."

"Ah but this is different, she won't recognize you. This powder gives someone the illusion of being human. Only animals can see past the illusion. Supernatural creatures can too but only through prolonged eye contact. Also the spell lasts for twelve hours so you'll have to reapply the powder."

He handed Husk the jar.

"You mean I have to go over there and talk to her?"

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"Um...I'm not exactly social."

"Too bad. I want that mirror and you're going to help me get it or you'll be whipped every morning and every evening. Now go clean yourself up, she won't hire you if you look like a slob."

"But I don't even know what position to apply for."

"Apply as a performer. Use your piano skills. Now move it!"

Poor Husk. He had been crushing on Rosie Calhoun since the moment he saw her. She was beautiful, classy, smart, and she had fire. What he wouldn't give to have the favor of a dame like that. Unfortunately when it came to women that he really liked, he couldn't talk to them. Granted he never really had very long to speak to them because most women would run away screaming once they saw him. But with this human disguise he would at least have some time to get a few words out. Key word, few.

Still there was no backing out of this so he figured he'd try to make the best of it. He gave himself a bath, fixed his hair, put on some clean clothes, shaved his beard a bit, and finally walked into the cabaret. There she was drying a glass with a dishtowel and humming a song by Ella Fitzgerald.

He quivered terribly, unable to call out to her. Seven minutes passed before she turned around from her work and became aware of his presence.

"Oh hello sir, may I help you?" She asked with a smile.

Husk started sweating and avoiding all eye contact. He opened his mouth but not much came out.

"Uh...Uh...Uh..."

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"I'm here...For...I...I...Um...Job."

"You want a job?"

"Yes."

"Okay. What are you applying for?"

"I...I...I play piano."

"So a performer?"

"Yeah."

"I suppose we could use one of those. What can you play?"

"Music."

"I mean what kind of music?"

Rosie thought he was very sketchy looking. But she also thought that he looked like he was about to have a heart attack. She wasn't sure if she should call the cops on this guy or call an ambulance for him. Husk on the other hand was about to explode from extreme nerves. It was bad enough that he was talking to her for the first time, but she had to pick today to wear a dress with a push up bra. His nervous eyes wandered down to her chest and that made it hard for him to breathe.

"I...I...I play cleavage."

"I beg your pardon!" Rosie screamed insulted.

"Cladwell! I meant the Cladwells! I play the Cladwells!"

"Who?"

"Unknown band. Really old. I play a lot of oldies. I also play Beethoven, and Mozart. I can just about play anything."

"And what's your name?"

"Husk."

"Husk what?"

"Just Husk. Just one name. Like Cher."

"Do you have references?"

"Not really but I can give a demonstration."

"Hmm...I don't normally take anyone without a reference or a recommendation. On the other hand though I am pretty short staffed on acts. I'll have to think about it."

"Good...Heh...Heh."

She looked at him suspiciously.

"You know I've never seen you around here before. Are you a tourist?"

"No. I just moved here."

"Where do you live?"

"Just a small apartment on the other side of town."

"What's your phone number?"

"I don't have a phone. I'm having a few money problems right now and finding work hasn't been very easy. I could just come back and we can talk again."

"Alright. Come back for an interview on Wednesday around 9 AM."

"I will. Thanks."

"Now would you be interested in staying for a drink or a meal?"

"You mean like a date?"

"No. Like a customer."

"Right! Because you own the cabaret! Duh! Why did I say date? That was stupid! No I won't be staying. I'll just go now. Nice meeting you. Bye."

She watched him stumble out of there and almost trip over himself several times.

"Odd man." She thought. "I hope he's not on drugs."