When it was Violet's turn to audition, she was still holding the toad she'd picked up in the hallway, not having found a convenient time or place to put it down. She'd never really sung for people before, not even her family--well, for Machiavelli, maybe, but he was only a magpie. She'd only ever sung very, very quietly to herself, when she was bored or nervous. So she had no idea what kind of voice she had or if she was about to totally embarrass herself right now.

And then--the old 'pick anything you want' instruction! Which was usually deadly, because the minute someone said pick whatever you want, you immediately couldn't think of anything at all. But she couldn't stand up her holding a toad and doing nothing, so, maybe because it was the season, she started singing an old Halloween song:

"A soul, a soul, a soul cake,
Please, good mistress, a soul cake,
An apple, a pear or a plum or a cherry
Or any good thing to make us merry..."

Violet's voice was not particularly loud or strong, but it came out sweet and clear (and mercifully on key). After a few bars, the toad in her arms began to croak very softly in time to the song.