Greer stood in the dark hall, looking around at the many portraits that lined the walls. Behind her stood Cal, holding their suitcases.

"So…you don't intend to go to college," he announced, pushing past her to set the cases down on the dining table. "That's really very lazy of you. No offense…thanks for letting me live in this house and all…even though I technically should own it…but you really want to be a housewife?" He looked at her with an emotion akin to disgust.

"Who are you to judge?" she shot back, putting her hands on her hips. "You're a 'writer'." She put extra emphasis on the last word. Calipher frowned.

"You don't understand the Bohemian lifestyle, I know, but that doesn't give you the right to belittle people," he grumbled. Setting his sights on the grand piano, he headed to the parlor. Greer sighed. Her parents wanted her to be a housewife, but who actually wanted to cook and clean for the rest of their life? Greer had never been good in school…she was too easily distracted. She didn't have the money for college, nor the stupidity and motherliness required for becoming a stay-at-home mom. Cal made being a witch sound pretty easy, though he didn't mean to, and the two were going to live in the old house at the dead end of Bird Street. Cal was 'living rough', as he said, until his writing skills were realized by the general public. After much consideration, Greer had invited him to live with her as a sort of live-in house manager. He was to clean and take care of the cats—which were his, anyway—and Greer would pay the bills…somehow.

"So…when do you intend to get a job?" Greer called out, looking towards the piano. Cal turned around mid-step.

"Job?" He looked horrified. "And give in to the mainstream? Never!" He reached for her hand, and before she knew what was happening, he was twirling her around the room. "Besides, my dear landlady," he added, "you haven't insisted that I pay rent. Therefore my life of sloth is none of your business."

"What about witchcraft?" Greer asked, getting dizzy. He stopped immediately, leaving her extremely disoriented.

"No," he said coldly. "There is absolutely no way you're forcing me to read that accursed book and perform my aunt's evil bidding." He turned to walk away.

"I need a way to pay the bills if you're to keep up your slothfulness, and I have the book." Calipher turned.

"Trust me," he said gravely, "if you try this, you'll wish you hadn't." Greer sighed, wondering how she was going to make things work.