Sometimes you never know what's going to happen the minute you open the front door... After advertising for a housekeeper, Kevin Fredward was expecting a sweet mild old lady. What he got was a not so sweet, crabby, old, talking duck named Rosemary. In a few minutes, Rosemary (super duck and frighteningly good housekeeper) managed to convince Kevin that she should stay. Literally dumbstruck and too comfortable after being in a clean house for weeks Kevin could only agree. Though, later on he often grumbled why he ever invited the feathered tyrant in his life.

The result of this rather bizarre situation is a highly entertaining quasi fantasy and rather thoughtful in the way it handled its story line. Living with Rosemary forced Kevin to analyse his life closely, he became a sensitive person towards his surrounding. Kevin had a rather unusual life, he ran away from home when he was about 12 and joined a street gang to survive. Managed to have his work published and became a thriller writer ever since. When a letter arrived from one of his old street mate asking for help Kevin's world was turned upside down. Kevin was asked to track down the son of his old gang's leader. The situation became more complicated when Kevin found out that the 8 year old Nick Jr has HIV. . .

Frankly, I was more than a little surprised when I started reading this particular story. It managed to weave fantasy and reality seamlessly. Halfway through the first volume it's easy to accept that Rosemary is a duck who happened to be a good housekeeper. The way Ushijima sensei drew the manga also contributed to the credibility of the story. Her angular style is beautiful, especially the way she draws animals and the various fantasy creatures that pops up in the story. I would love to see a fantasy manga done by her, her style seems to suit the genre.

Characters

Kevin Fredward
A young famous thriller writer with an incredibly short temper. Ran away from home when he was 12. Joined a gang and tried to educate himself before he made his big break as a thriller writer. Regards Rosemary as a type of surrogate grandmother. I think he rather liked being bullied around sometimes.
Rosemary
Lived in the town all her life, she married another duck called Christopher who died before her. Worked as a housekeeper for several people before working for Kevin. Eventhough she is a duck, Ushijima sensei treated her as a human character who is limited by her own form. There was an interesting chapter when Rosemary talked about how animals are in the mercy of human all the time. Oh and she's an excellent fisher err duck? much to Kevin's annoyance.

Esmerelda
A famous model and Kevin's ex-girlfriend, as Rosemary said they were too much alike for their relationship to last. She had since then come to depend on Kevin as a friend.

Nick Junior
The son of Kevin's ex gang leader. Nick's mother was already infected with the virus when she had Kevin, both his parents died of the disease. Nick is a sensitive and rather timid boy who's conscious that his illness made him unwanted.

Gloria Densham
Nick's doctor, otherwise known as the "ice queen". A tyrant with the nurses, had the reputation as being the most frightening doctor in the hospital. Took an instant dislike to Kevin from the first moment. Clashed with Esmerelda from the first second (who doesn't), other than that she's quite a decent person.